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Pentagon chief Robert Gates said Tuesday that he will not
be a “caretaker” Defense secretary and that he will aggressively tackle the
Pentagon’s challenges. “Our challenges, from the budget to acquisition and
procurement reform, war strategy, care of wounded warriors, meeting the needs
of war fighters, decisions on important modernization and capitalization
projects and more all demand the personal attention of the secretary of
Defense, and they will get it,” Gates told reporters at a press conference Tuesday.
President-elect Obama announced Monday that he will keep
Gates as his Defense secretary, making it the first time that a Pentagon chief
has been asked by a new president to stay.
Gates said his commitment to Obama is open-ended and that
the two of them did not discuss a timeframe for his service.
The Defense secretary will likely play a large role in
selecting his deputies and other high-level Pentagon appointees.
“I expect that the transition will provide names and
candidates to me for positions, particularly for the most senior positions,”
Gates said. “I will interview them and then I’ll make a recommendation to the
president.”
Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England announced
Tuesday that he would remain at the Pentagon beyond Jan. 20 to ensure a smooth
transition but that he would not stay on and serve long-term under Obama. The
deputy secretary of defense manages the day-to-day business of the Pentagon and
has a large influence over weapons buying.
England’s successor is widely believed to be groomed to
become secretary once Gates leaves the Pentagon. Former Secretary of the Navy
Richard Danzig is rumored as one of the top choices for deputy secretary, but
Obama’s transition team refused to comment on any appointments.
Gates brushed off concerns that he would be at odds with
any of the president’s appointees.
“The truth of the matter is when I came here two years
ago, every single position was filled by somebody who had been appointed by
somebody else. I think it’s worked out OK,” Gates said.
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