President Barack Obama announced Tuesday his nomination of Ashton Carter to become the next deputy defense secretary.
Carter currently serves as undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, a post he assumed in April 2009. Carter will replace the outgoing William Lynn, who announced his departure earlier this month.
Bloomberg reports Carter’s nomination means the Obama administration will not have to recruit an outside candidate. An outside candidate would require both FBI vetting and the need to divest investments to avoid conflicts of interest.
“I look forward to having Ash as my partner as we drive solutions to the strategic management challenges facing the Department of Defense,†Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a statement. “He has shaped key major acquisition decisions, and was instrumental in crafting a new space policy, our first-ever operational-energy strategy, and a landmark cyber strategy.â€
Carter will face a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, then the full Senate will vote on confirmation. The Senate is not scheduled to convene until after Labor Day.
Carter was appointed last week to the 11-member Government Accountability and Transparency Board, established by the White House in June to cut waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.
