James Cartwright

Cartwright was born on September 22, 1949, in Rockford, Illinois, and attended West High School before going on to the University of Iowa. While there he was a scholarship swimmer for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

File:Bush, Mullen, and Cartwright 2007.jpg George W. Bush (at lectern) announces the nominations of Cartwright (far left) and Michael Mullen (second from left) to be Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, respectively, on June 28, 2007]]

Cartwright was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1971. He attended Naval Flight Officer training and graduated in April 1973. He attended Naval Aviator training and graduated in January 1977. He has operational assignments as a Naval Flight Officer in the F-4, and as a pilot in the F-4, OA-4, and F/A-18.{{cite web

|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=138

|title=Official Biography: General James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense

|access-date=May 16, 2006}} His callsign comes from the fictional character Eric "Hoss" Cartwright, the middle brother on the classic 1960s TV show Bonanza, who was played by actor Dan Blocker.

Cartwright's operational assignments include: Commanding General, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (2000–2002); Deputy Commanding General Marine Forces Atlantic (1999–2000); Commander Marine Aircraft Group 31 (1994–1996); Commander Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (1992); Fixed Wing Operations Marine Aircraft Group 24 (1991); Commander Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 (1989–1990); Administration Officer and Officer-In-Charge Deployed Carrier Operations VMFAT-101 (1983–1985); Aircraft Maintenance Officer VMFA-235 (1979–1982); Line Division Officer VMFA-333 {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}} (1975–1977); Embarkation OIC VMFA-251 & 232 (1973–1975).

Cartwright's staff assignments include: Director for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8 the Joint Staff (2002–2004); Directorate for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8 the Joint Staff (1996–1999); Deputy Aviation Plans, Policy, and Budgets Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (1993–1994); Assistant Program Manager for Engineering, F/A-18 Naval Air Systems Command (1986–1989).

Cartwright was named the Outstanding Carrier Aviator by the Association of Naval Aviation in 1983. He graduated with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB 1986, and received his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, 1991. In 2008, he was honored with the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award. He was selected for and completed a fellowship with MIT Seminar XXI in 1994.{{cite web |url=http://semxxi.mit.edu/about/messages/from-the-director |title=From the Director: September, 2015 |last=Art |first=Robert |date=September 1, 2015 |website=MIT Seminar XXI |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology}}; {{cite web |author=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|url=https://semxxi.mit.edu/alumni |title=Find Alumni |website=MIT Seminar XXI |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology}}

From July 9, 2004, to September 1, 2004, Lieutenant General Cartwight served as Acting Commander, United States Strategic Command while awaiting official assumption of office and promotion as Strategic Command's new commander. On September 1, 2004, Cartwright was sworn in as Commander, United States Strategic Command.{{cite web

|url=http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/biographies/A12F0CE8687DFFD585256803004C023D?opendocument

|title=General James E. Cartwright, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command

|format=Official Biography

|publisher=United States Marine Corps

|date=August 30, 2004

|access-date=May 16, 2006

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614025556/http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/biographies/A12F0CE8687DFFD585256803004C023D?opendocument

|archive-date=June 14, 2006}} He was promoted to full general on the same day."Public Directory of: U.S. Marine Corps General Officers & Senior Executives", U.S. Marine Corps, January 8, 2008.

File:US Navy 090128-N-0696M-200 President Barack Obama addresses the media during his first visit to the Pentagon since becoming commander-in-chief.jpg Barack Obama, with Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff; Gen. George W. Casey, U.S. Army chief of staff; Gen. James E. Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the President's first visit to the Pentagon as the Commander-in-Chief. ]]

File:Cartwright and England follow the progress of USA 193.jpg Gordon R. England watching the progress of an SM-3 anti-ballistic missile in 2008]]

On June 8, 2007, Defense Secretary Robert Gates recommended Cartwright to be the next Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to replace retiring Admiral Edmund Giambastiani. President George W. Bush formally announced the nomination, with that of Admiral Michael Mullen to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on June 28, 2007.{{cite news

|access-date=June 9, 2007

|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/navy_jcschair_mullen_070608w/

|title=Gates taps new JCS chairman, vice chair

|date=June 8, 2007

|author=McMichael, William H.

|work=Marine Corps Times

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613123342/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/navy_jcschair_mullen_070608w/

|archive-date=June 13, 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

Senator John Warner of Virginia, the senior Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated, "General Cartwright has an extraordinary grasp and understanding of the global posture that America must maintain in this era of new and ever-changing threats".{{cite news

|access-date=June 9, 2007

|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/08/gates.pace/

|title= Pace leaving as Joint Chiefs chairman

|author=Starr, Barbara and Suzanne Malveaux

|date=June 8, 2007

|publisher=CNN}}

Cartwright's nomination was confirmed by the full Senate on August 3, 2007. Due to the retirement of Admiral Giambastiani on July 27, 2007, Cartwright assumed the position immediately upon confirmation.{{cite news

|access-date=August 17, 2007

|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46957

|title= Senate Confirms Mullen, Cartwright for Top Military Positions

|last=Miles|first=Donna

|date=August 6, 2007

|agency=American Forces Press Service

|work=DefenseLINK |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense}} He was sworn in on August 31, 2007, as the 8th Vice Chairman.{{cite news|access-date=February 24, 2009

|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47260

|title=Gates Swears in Cartwright as Vice Chairman

|first=Jim |last=Garamone

|agency=American Forces Press Service

|work=DefenseLINK

|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense

|date=August 31, 2007}} On March 18, 2009, Secretary of Defense Gates announced that Cartwright had been nominated for a second term as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.{{cite news

|access-date=March 18, 2009

|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/03/army_gates_mullen_cartwright_031809w/

|title=Mullen, Cartwright nominated for 2nd terms

|first=Michelle

|last=Tan

|date=March 18, 2009

|work=Marine Corps Times

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405060935/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/03/army_gates_mullen_cartwright_031809w/

|archive-date=April 5, 2012

|url-status=dead

}} He was confirmed by the Senate on July 31, 2009.[https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/one_item_and_teasers/noms_confn.htm U.S. Senate Legislation & Records Home Nominations Confirmed (Non-Civilian)]

The military investigated Cartwright in 2009 and 2010 for possible misconduct involving a female Marine captain, and investigators recommended administrative action for "failure to discipline a subordinate" and "fostering an unduly familiar relationship". Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, however, reviewed the evidence and found it insufficient to warrant corrective action for even the lesser offenses. He stated, "I do not agree with the conclusion that General Cartwright maintained an 'unduly familiar relationship' with his aide. Nor do I agree that General Cartwright's execution of his leadership responsibilities vis-à-vis his aide or any other member of his staff was inconsistent with the leadership requirements".{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/us/politics/24pentagon.html | work=The New York Times | first=Thom | last=Shanker | title=General James Cartwright Is Cleared of Sex Accusations | date=February 23, 2011}} Questions about how he oversaw his staff, however, were mentioned as a reason Cartwright had fallen out as the favored candidate of President Obama for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2011. Army chief Gen. Martin Dempsey was named to the post. "Some Republicans [had] ... quietly criticized Gen. Cartwright, calling him 'Obama's general,'" one report at the time also said.Entous, Adam, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303745304576355321237338548 "Top Officer in Army to Lead Joint Chiefs"], The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.

Cartwright held his retirement ceremony on August 3, 2011. During the ceremony, Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III presented Cartwright his fourth Defense Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard distinguished service medals.[https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/64913/ "Panetta Honors Cartwright During Farewell Tribute"] American Forces Press Service, Aug. 3, 2011, Retrieved March 26, 2012.

{{cite book |title=The Chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1949-2012 |date=October 27, 2012 |publisher=Joint History Office |isbn=978-1480200203 |page=320 |edition=2 |url=https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Institutional/Chairmanship_of_the_JCS.pdf}}

Cartwright received the following decorations, awards, and badges:

In June 2013, it was reported that Cartwright had received a target letter from the U.S. Justice Department, informing him that he was under investigation for leaking classified information about Stuxnet, a computer virus used in a U.S.-Israel cyberattack against centrifuges in Iranian nuclear facilities (see Operation Olympic Games).{{cite web|last=Isikoff|first=Michael|title=Ex-Pentagon general target of leak investigation, sources say|url=http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/27/19174350-ex-pentagon-general-target-of-leak-investigation-sources-say?lite|work=NBC News|access-date=19 October 2013|date=27 June 2013}} Federal investigators reportedly suspected that Cartwright leaked details of the operation to a New York Times reporter.Ellen Nakashima & Adam Goldman, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/leak-investigation-stalls-amid-fears-of-confirming-joint-us-israel-operation/2015/03/10/2a348b1e-c36c-11e4-9ec2-b418f57a4a99_story.html Leak investigation stalls amid fears of confirming U.S.-Israel operation], Washington Post (March 10, 2015).

In March 2015, the Washington Post reported that the sensitive leak investigation, led by Rod Rosenstein, had "stalled amid concerns that a prosecution in federal court could force the government to confirm" information about the highly classified program. U.S. officials feared that if classified information were revealed in any information, it would harm U.S.-Israeli relations and would also complicate the then-pending negotiations on an agreement with Iran over the nuclear program. It was reported that federal prosecutors had discussions with the Office of White House Counsel, then led by Kathryn Ruemmler, on whether certain material important to the case would be declassified, and Ruemmler conveyed that the government was unwilling to provide the documentation.

Cartwright denied any wrongdoing; his attorney, Gregory B. Craig, said in March 2015 that Cartwright had no contact with federal investigators for over a year. Craig stated: "General Cartwright has done nothing wrong. He has devoted his entire life to defending the United States. He would never do anything to weaken our national defense or undermine our national security. Hoss Cartwright is a national treasure, a genuine hero and a great patriot."

On November 2, 2012, in an interview with the FBI, Cartwright denied he was the source of the leaks. On October 17, 2016, Cartwright entered a guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on a charge of making false statements during the leak investigation, a felony.{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-vice-chairman-joint-chiefs-staff-pleads-guilty-federal-felony-leak-investigation |title=Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Pleads Guilty to Federal Felony in Leak Investigation |author= |date= 17 October 2016|website=justice.gov |publisher=United States Government |access-date=17 October 2016}}

Outgoing President Barack Obama pardoned Cartwright on January 17, 2017,{{cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2017/01/18/obamas-pardon-of-gen-james-cartwright-is-a-new-twist-in-the-war-on-leaks/ |title=Obama's Pardon of Gen. James Cartwright Is a New Twist in the War on Leaks |author=Peter Maas |date= 18 January 2017|website=theintercept.com |access-date=20 November 2019}} two weeks prior to his scheduled sentencing hearing.

Cartwright was the inaugural holder of the Harold Brown Chair in Defense Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank{{snd}}a post he held from 2011 until 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.csis.org/programs/international-security-program/harold-brown-chair|title = Harold Brown Chair | Center for Strategic and International Studies}} In addition, Cartwright serves as a member of the board of directors of The Raytheon Company,{{cite web|title=James E. Cartwright Elected to Raytheon Board of Directors|url=http://raytheon.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2027|work=Raytheon|access-date=19 October 2013|date=27 January 2012}} a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School,{{cite web|last=Smith|first=James|title=Former Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman James Cartwright Appointed Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center|url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/cartwright-belfer-center-fellow|work=Harvard Kennedy School|access-date=19 October 2013|date=2 October 2012|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706043444/https://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/cartwright-belfer-center-fellow|url-status=dead}} and as a defense consultant for ABC News.{{cite web|last=Ford|first=David|title=General Cartwright (USMC ret.) and General Chiarelli (USA ret.) Join ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/05/general-cartwright-usmc-ret-and-general-chiarelli-usa-ret-join-abc-news/|work=ABC News|access-date=19 October 2013|date=21 May 2012}}

Cartwright is an advisor for several corporate entities involved in global management consulting, technology services and program solutions, predictive and big data analytics, and advanced systems engineering, integration, and decision-support services.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}{{Buzzword inline|date=December 2020}} He serves as an advisor to the board of directors for Accenture,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Enlightenment Capital,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} IxReveal,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Logos Technologies,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Opera Solutions,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} and TASC Inc.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} He is also affiliated with a number of professional organizations, including the Aspen Strategy Group,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} [https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ The Atlantic Council],{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors|website=Atlantic Council|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-11}} the Nuclear Threat Initiative,{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} and the Sanya Initiative.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Cartwright is also a leading advocate for the phased and verified elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide{{cite news|last=Shanker|first=Thom|title=Former Commander of U.S. Nuclear Forces Calls for Large Cut in Warheads|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/world/cartwright-key-retired-general-backs-large-us-nuclear-reduction.html?_r=3&|access-date=19 October 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 May 2012}} ("Global Zero (campaign)"). In October 2011, he spoke at the Global Zero Summit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California,{{cite news|last=Willer-Allred|first=Michele|title=Global Zero Summit pushes to reduce nuclear weapons|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/11/global-zero-summit-pushes-to-reduce-nuclear/|access-date=19 October 2013|newspaper=Ventura County Star|date=11 October 2011|archive-date=December 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220065343/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/11/global-zero-summit-pushes-to-reduce-nuclear/|url-status=dead}} and currently serves as Chair of the Global Zero U.S. Nuclear Policy Commission, which in May 2012 released its report, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120721002740/http://www.globalzero.org/en/us-nuclear-policy-commission-report "Modernizing U.S. Nuclear Force Structure and Policy,"] calling for the United States and Russia to reduce their nuclear arsenals 80% to 900 total weapons each, which would pave the way to bringing other nuclear weapons countries into the first-in-history multilateral nuclear arms negotiations.{{cite web|title=Towards a More Disarmed World|url=https://www.ft.com/content/dadd0bb4-9e8d-11e1-a767-00144feabdc0|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231209/https://www.ft.com/content/dadd0bb4-9e8d-11e1-a767-00144feabdc0|archive-date=December 11, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=FT.com|publisher=The Financial Times|access-date=19 October 2013|date=15 May 2012}}

In June 2015, Cartwright was a signatory to a public letter written by a bipartisan group of 19 U.S. diplomats, experts, and others, on the then-pending negotiations for an agreement between Iran and world powers over Iran's nuclear program.William J. Broad, [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-accords-complexity-shows-bipartisan-letters-impact.html Iran Accord's Complexity Shows Impact of Bipartisan Letter], The New York Times (14 July 2015).[http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/public-statement-on-u.s.-policy-toward-the-iran-nuclear-negotiations Public Statement on U.S. Policy Toward the Iran Nuclear Negotiations Endorsed by a Bipartisan Group of American Diplomats, Legislators, Policymakers, and Experts], Washington Institute for Near East Policy (24 June 2015). That letter outlined concerns about several provisions in the then-unfinished agreement and called for a number of improvements to strengthen the prospective agreement and win the letter-writers' support for it. The final agreement, concluded in July 2015, shows the influence of the letter. Cartwright endorsed the final agreement in August 2015, becoming one of 36 retired generals and admirals to sign an open letter in support of the agreement.[Read: An open letter from retired generals and admirals on the Iran nuclear deal], Washington Post (August 2015).{{full citation needed|date=March 2017}}{{full citation needed|date=March 2017}}

;Government civilian positions

• 2011–2013: Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee Member{{cite web|title=DOD Announces New Defense Policy Board Members|url=https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14841|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=19 October 2013|date=4 October 2011}}
• 2014: National Defense Panel, United States Institute of Peace[https://web.archive.org/web/20150105185558/http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/Ensuring-a-Strong-U.S.-Defense-for-the-Future-NDP-Review-of-the-QDR.pdf Review of 2014 QDR]

{{Portal|Biography}}

• List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
• List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|James E. Cartwright}}

• [http://www.jcs.mil/ Joint Chiefs of Staff]
• [http://www.stratcom.mil/ U.S. Strategic Command]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/world/middleeast/obama-ordered-wave-of-cyberattacks-against-iran.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 Involvement with "Olympic Games" aka Stuxnet]
• {{C-SPAN|1009416}}
• {{Facebook| JamesECartwright.Official |James E Cartwright}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{Succession box|title=Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff|before=Edmund P. Giambastiani|after=James A. Winnefeld, Jr.|years=2007–2011}}

{{Succession box|title=Commander, United States Strategic Command|before=James O. Ellis|after=Kevin P. Chilton|years=2004–2007}}

{{end}}

{{VCJCS}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartwright, James}}

Category:1949 births

Category:Living people

Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff

Category:Vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Category:American people convicted of making false statements

Category:People from Rockford, Illinois

Category:Military personnel from Illinois

Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's swimmers

Category:Naval War College alumni

Category:United States Marine Corps generals

Category:United States Naval Aviators

Category:United States Naval Flight Officers

Category:People pardoned by Barack Obama

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit