WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (AP): US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is to stay on in charge of the Pentagon when Barack Obama takes office as president, according to US media reports.
Mr Gates was nominated to the role by President George W Bush in 2006 and has overseen a change of strategy in Iraq.
ABC News and Politico.com quoted officials saying Mr Gates would remain in the job for at least the first year of Mr Obama's administration.
Mr Obama will give his third news briefing in as many days on Wednesday.
The focus will be the economy, an aide said. In the previous news conferences, Mr Obama - who takes office on 20 January - named the new leaders of his economic team.
ABC and Politico said that retired Marine Gen James Jones - a former commander of US and Nato forces in Europe - would be named as national security adviser.
Mr Obama is expected to announce his national security team early next week, Politico said, citing officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Analysts had suggested that former CIA director Mr Gates, 65, might be asked to stay in his role because he was respected by both parties and would reflect a more bipartisan administration. Mr Obama's office has not confirmed the reports.
Gates 'to stay as Pentagon chief'
FE Team | Published: November 27, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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