Today, President Obama announced a series of cabinet and high level changes that, he said, would maintain "continuity" in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Obama announced that he nominated CIA Director Leon Panetta to replace Robert Gates as Defense Secretary, and Gen. David Petraeus, who is leading the military effort for the U.S. and NATO in Afghanistan, will replace him as CIA Director.
Additionally, the President announced that Lt. General John Allen will take over the command in Afghanistan from Petraeus, and Ryan Crocker, former Ambassador to Pakistan, will become Ambassador to Afghanistan.
Current Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last year that he would be stepping down later this year.
All the nominees will need to appear before the senate at confirmation hearings and be approved before they can take their posts. It is expected that these hearings will take place in the next couple of months.