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Obama Defense Secretary Pick Coming Friday

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is expected to be the nominee to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel.

President Barack Obama will announce his pick for the next Secretary of Defense on Friday morning, a White House spokesman said.

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter is expected to be the nominee to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel, although the White House has not formally confirmed that information.

Spokesman Josh Earnest announced the nomination event during a regularly scheduled press briefing Thursday afternoon.

"The president will announce for himself who his nominee is," Earnest said when asked to confirm that Carter will be nominated.

- Carrie Dann