Senate Confirms Ashton Carter as Obama's Fourth Pentagon Chief
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The Senate voted to confirm Ashton Carter as the 25th U.S. secretary of defense, giving President Barack Obama his fourth Pentagon chief in six years at a time of turmoil from Iraq to Ukraine.
Carter, 60, a physicist and veteran Pentagon official, was approved, 93-5, on Thursday in a show of support from both political parties. The smooth confirmation contrasted with the fight over his predecessor, departing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who stumbled over policy questions at his confirmation hearing and later had a falling out with White House aides that led to his departure.