US President Barack Obama on Monday named Vietnam veteran and former senator Chuck Hagel as his nominee for defence secretary, and career Central Intelligence Agency officer John Brennan to head the CIA. Obama made the announcements at the White House with both men at his side. Hagel will replace Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, who intends to leave his post soon after Obama begins his second four-year term on January 20. Brennan would take the CIA director job from Michael Morell, who has been serving as acting director of the agency since David Petraeus stepped down late last year after admitting an extramarital affair. Both nominations must be approved by the US Senate.
