US President Barack Obama tapped policy wonk Ashton Carter to oversee the sprawling Defense Department yesterday, heralding his new nominee as one of the United States' "foremost national security leaders."

Obama announced Carter's nomination during a ceremony at the White House. A Pentagon veteran who is seen as a centrist, Carter is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate, putting him at the helm of a department moving back into military conflict in the Middle East even as it grapples with budget cuts.

The leadership shakeup at the Pentagon marks the only major change Obama has made to his national security team during his second term.

While White House officials haven't fully ruled out other changes, Obama appears highly unlikely to replace national security adviser Susan Rice or White House chief of staff Denis McDonough, who plays a significant role in foreign policy decision-making.

In discussing the Pentagon post with Carter, Obama said he emphasized the need "to make smart choices, precisely because there are so many challenges out there."

Carter, a widely respected physicist and academic, has won praise from some Republicans, suggesting he'll face a smooth Senate confirmation. Carter would replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned under pressure last week after a bumpy tenure.

Hagel did not attend yesterday's event. A defense official said the outgoing secretary did not want to distract from Carter's nomination.

The level of control the White House has exerted over the Pentagon in particular has rankled those who have held the agency's top job before Carter. Former Defense Secretaries Robert Gates and Leon Panetta have both spoken extensively about what they saw as White House micromanagement and meddling in Pentagon affairs.

In brief remarks yesterday, Carter signaled that he would not shy from expressing his opinion in his new role.

"If confirmed in this job, I pledge to you my most candid strategic advice," he said to Obama.

While the White House has denied that it has negatively interfered with the Pentagon, officials made clear this week that Obama had no plans to loosen his reins on the Defense Department.

"The president of the United States is the commander in chief and sits at the top of the chain of command," Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said. "That means the president bears significant responsibility for what happens at the Pentagon and the Department of Defense."

Carter has extensive experience in the national security arena. He held the No. 2 job at the Pentagon from October 2011 to December 2013 and also served as the Defense Department's technology and weapons-buying chief during the opening years of Obama's presidency.

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