Chuck Hagel stepping down as SecDef

[CougarKing]

Ashton Carter to be the new SecDef?

Ashton Carter will be Obama's choice as secretary of defense, barring last-minute complications, administration officials tell CNN.

Washington (CNN) -- Ashton Carter, the former second-in-command at the Pentagon appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel, sources tells CNN.

Barring any last minute complications, Ash Carter will be President Barack Obama's choice as the new Secretary of Defense, several U.S. administration officials told CNN.

An administration official had said that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, a former General Counsel at the Pentagon, was also still on the list of possibilities, but on Tuesday morning, sources said Johnson was no longer being considered. The prospect of an additional confirmation hearing for Johnson's replacement if he were to move to the Pentagon as the Senate switches to Republican control would have been problematic for the White House.

CNN

 

[Edward Campbell]

I heard Mr Carter described, by some 'talking head' or another, as "the last man standing" after all the other (higher) choices had taken their names, very quickly, off the table. He is, however, well qualified.

 

[CougarKing]

And Obama officially makes his nomination for Hagel's replacement...

Military.com

Obama Names Ashton Carter as His Next Pentagon Chief

Dec 05, 2014 | by Matthew Cox
President Obama today officially nominated Ashton Carter to be the next secretary of defense.
With Carter standing at his side at the White House, Obama praised the expertise Carter has demonstrated in the three decades of service to the country and his exhaustive dedication to members of the U.S. Military.

"With a record of service that has spanned more than 30 years as a public servant,  as an advisor, as a scholar – Ash is rightly regarded as one our nation's foremost national security leaders."

Carter, 60, retired from the Pentagon one year ago as the deputy secretary of defense. If confirmed, he will replace his former boss and outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

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