[beth]

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/...pt=T1&iref=BN1

President Barack Obama will name CIA Director Leon Panetta as his nominee to succeed Robert Gates as defense secretary, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

An administration official said this month that Obama is considering Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, as the next possible CIA director.
Panetta took over at the CIA in February 2009.

Panetta, 72, served as chief of staff to President Clinton between 1994 and 1997. Previously he was director of the Office of Management and Budget. The California Democrat served in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993.