Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed little concern Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump was considering many military generals for top positions in his administration.
"Considering what other options are out there, the ones he's at least considering are people I've worked with and are pretty reputable," Panetta told U.S. News & World Report. "I wouldn't be that worried."
Panetta's comments came at a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Trump already has named former Defense Intelligence Agency director and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn national security adviser.
Here are other military officers under consideration by Trump:
- Ret. Marine Gen. Jim Mattis for Secretary of Defense.
- Former CIA Director and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus for Secretary of State.
- Ret. Marine Gen. John Kelly, also for Defense Secretary. Kelly also is being considered for Secretary of Homeland Security.
- Adm. Mike Rogers, current chief of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, who met with Trump last month amid reports about discord with the Obama administration.
Among those expressing concerns about the large number of military officers under consideration for senior positions by Trump is Robert Gates, who preceded Panetta as defense secretary.
"I think it would be very difficult to have former generals as both secretary of state and defense," Gates told CBS News on Wednesday. "That is probably too much military influence in the decision-making process."
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