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Washington • Retired Gen. James Mattis, poised to become the first career military officer in charge of the Pentagon since the 1950s, said Thursday he would have no problem embracing the tradition of civilian control of the military.

In testimony prepared for his Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Mattis said he understands his role as the Defense Department's civilian leader would be different "in essence and in substance" from his four decades in uniform.

"The esprit-de-corps of our military, its can-do spirit, and its obedience to civilian leadership reduces the inclination and power of the military to criticize or oppose the policy it is ultimately ordered to implement," Mattis said. He called civilian control "a fundamental tenet of the American military tradition."

Mattis, 66, retired in 2013 after serving as commander of U.S. Central Command in charge of all U.S. forces in the Middle East.

He is known for strong views on Iran. Mattis views Tehran as a menace in the Middle East, and would work for a president, Donald Trump, who has pledged to toughen U.S. policy toward Iran. That could have broad implications as the incoming administration weighs modifying the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and reconfiguring American posture in the Middle East after complaints from U.S. allies that President Barack Obama yielded too much ground to Tehran.

The last career military officer to serve as defense secretary was George Marshall in 1950-51.

In his opening remarks to senators, Mattis expressed unqualified support for traditional U.S. international alliances. In contrast, Trump insisted during the presidential campaign that U.S. treaty allies and security partners pay more for their own defense and for hosting American forces on their soil.

"History is clear: Nations with strong allies thrive and those without them wither," Mattis said.

Mattis also formerly led NATO's transformation command, which seeks to adapt the alliance's structure and capabilities for 21st century threats.

Before Mattis can join the Cabinet, Congress must approve a one-time exception to a law requiring a military officer to be out of uniform for at least seven years before leading the Pentagon. Even some of Trump's strongest critics say Mattis merits the exception.

Eliot A. Cohen, a senior State Department counselor in President George W. Bush's administration who has publicly criticized the incoming Trump team, said at a Senate hearing this week that he feels a "sense of alarm" about the judgment of the incoming administration. But he said Mattis "would be a stabilizing and moderating force, preventing wildly stupid, dangerous or illegal things from happening."

Trump has selected two other recently retired general for top jobs in his administration.

Michael Flynn, who left the Army as a lieutenant general in 2014 after a tumultuous tenure as the Defense Intelligence Agency's director, is Trump's national security adviser. Marine Gen. John Kelly, who retired in 2016, was chosen to head the Department of Homeland Security.

Mattis could attract top-notch talent to the Pentagon, said Richard Fontaine, the Center for a New American Security's president.

"He has a reputation as a leader of exceptional integrity who inspires his subordinates and speaks truth to power," Fontaine said in an email.