Panetta Sworn In As Defense Secretary

The Associated Press reports:

A day after stepping down as CIA director, Leon Panetta was sworn in Friday as secretary of defense. He began settling into the job by telling members of the military and their families they are "at the top of my agenda."

Panetta succeeds Robert Gates, who was a Republican holdover from the George W. Bush administration, and is the first Democrat to run the Pentagon since William J. Perry finished his tenure in 1997.

In a nod to Gates, Panetta wrote in a message to all troops and civilian workers at the Defense Department that he intends to emulate his predecessor's role as an advocate for the troops and their families. "I pledge to be the same," he wrote.

Upon arrival at the Potomac River entrance to the Pentagon, Panetta was greeted by his senior military assistant, Marine Lt. Gen. John Kelly, who shook his boss' hand and said, "Welcome aboard, sir." Panetta, briefcase in hand, bounded up the steps and into his 3rd floor office, where he took the oath of office as the nation's 23rd defense secretary.

In his written message, issued moments after his swearing in, Panetta said that in his 2½ years as CIA chief he appreciated the military's capabilities, and he promised that as Pentagon chief he would do all he could to maintain that strength.