Published December 4, 2014 1:18pm EST | Updated January 8, 2015 3:00pm EST

Obama To Name Secretary Of Defense Nominee Friday

President Obama will announce his nominee to fill the post of defense secretary, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is widely expected to be Obama's choice to replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned last month. Earnest refused to confirm that Carter would be named to lead the Pentagon.