U.S. Secretary Of Defense Panetta Takes Control Of The Pentagon

PENTAGON WELCOME - A sharp military salute from senior military assistant Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Kelly greets Leon E. Panetta as he arrives at the Pentagon, July 1, 2011, for his first day on the job as the nation's 23rd secretary of defense. After arriving, Panetta was sworn in by Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson. Panetta was scheduled to meet with senior staff and have lunch with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. DOD photo by R.D. Ward

Panetta Sworn In As Obama's Second Pentagon Chief -- ABC News/AP

A day after stepping down as CIA director, Leon Panetta was sworn in Friday as secretary of defense. He began settling into the job by telling members of the military and their families they are "at the top of my agenda."

He was meeting later with his civilian staff and then with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. He planned to have lunch with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs. A spokesman, Doug Wilson, said Panetta intends to work at maintaining close relations with the military at all levels.

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OATH OF OFFICE - Leon E. Panetta takes the oath of office as the 23rd U.S. secretary of defense during a Pentagon ceremony, July 1, 2011. Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson administered the oath in the secretary’s office. DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

More News On U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta -- U.S. Department of Defense

Panetta sworn in as defense secretary, taking over a Pentagon facing myriad problems -- L.A. Times
Panetta takes control of Pentagon -- L.A. Times
Panetta sworn in as Obama's second Pentagon chief -- AJC/AP
Panetta sworn in as defense secretary, taking over a Pentagon facing myriad problems -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta Pledges ‘No Hollow Force’ on His Watch -- U.S. Department of Defense
Panetta, sworn in as defense secretary, pledges ‘no hollow force’ on his watch -- Washington Post
Panetta vows to keep US military 'strongest' in world -- AFP
Panetta Will Not Gut Military: Pentagon -- Defense News/AFP
New defense chief sees tough budget choices -- Reuters
New US defense chief sees tough choices on budget -- Reuters
Taking over at Pentagon, Panetta facing new set of conflicts -- Paul Koring, Globe And Mail
Leon Panetta's first day at Pentagon helm: It's not all grim. -- Christian Science Monitor

Leon E. Panetta arrives in the Pentagon before taking the oath of office as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense during a Pentagon ceremony, July 1, 2011. DOD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey