Obama to name Defense Secretary on Dec 1

Chicago, Nov 29: US President-elect Barack Obama is likely to name the country's Defense Secretary on Monday, Dec 1 a senior Pentagon official told Fox News.

Media has so far reported that current Defense Secretary Robert Gates plans to accept an offer to remain in the post for at least a year, but a senior Pentagon official did not confirm those reports. Gates, who is at his home in Washington State, plans to visit Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on Monday at 1 p.m. to address about 1,000 airmen. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Friday that if Gates is called to Chicago for an announcement on Monday morning, he still plans to go to Minot.

The senior Pentagon official could not comment on whether Obama intends to announce his entire national security team on Monday.

ANI