BREAKING NEWS: Ashton Carter To Be Named As The New U.S. Secretary Of Defense

Meet Chuck Hagel's Expected Replacement As Defense Secretary -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Ashton Carter, the former second-in-command at the Pentagon appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Barring any last minute complications, Ash Carter will be President Barack Obama's choice as the new Secretary of Defense, several U.S. administration officials told CNN.

An administration official had said that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, a former General Counsel at the Pentagon, was also still on the list of possibilities, but on Tuesday morning, sources said Johnson was no longer being considered. The prospect of an additional confirmation hearing for Johnson's replacement if he were to move to the Pentagon as the Senate switches to Republican control would have been problematic for the White House.

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My Comment: No surprise on this selection. After former defense official Michele Flournoy dropped out .... Ashton Carter was number two on the list. And I am also predicting that there will be little if any opposition from the US Senate when he is confirmed.

This story will be updated later today.