CIA Director Leon Panetta is expected to be named President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed Robert Gates as Defense Secretary. General David Petraeus, now the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is also expected to be named Panetta’s replacement as CIA director. Panetta, a resident of Monterey County, visited 30 countries during his tour in the CIA, and also served President Clinton as Chief of Staff and as a former member of Congress, representing the Salinas area, has longstanding ties throughout government.
