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Robert Gates was sworn in Monday as the 22nd secretary of Defense, succeeding Donald Rumsfeld at a time when the Bush administration is seeking to address a deteriorating situation in Iraq.

"He is an experienced and thoughtful leader," President Bush said of Gates at a swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon. "He's got a track record of steering large organizations through change and transformation. I know Bob Gates will be an outstanding secretary of the Defense."

Gates said he valued the "professionalism and experience" of Defense Department personnel. "It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with the people in this department -- dedicated professionals whose overriding priority is the defense of our nation," he said.

"Long ago I learned something about leading large organizations," Gates added. "Leaders come and go, but the professionals endure long after the appointees are gone. The key to successful leadership in my view is to involve in the decision-making process early and often those who ultimately must carry out the decisions."

Gates said he plans to travel to Iraq soon to meet with military leaders. "I look forward to hearing their honest assessments of the situation on the ground and to having the benefit of their advice -- unvarnished and from the shoulder," he said.

Gates was nominated by President Bush in early November and confirmed by the Senate Dec. 6 on a 95-2 vote.

The former CIA director comes to the Pentagon after spending four years as president of Texas A&M University. He spent part of September in Iraq as a member of a group assessing the situation there and U.S. options in the region.

Gates rose through the ranks of the CIA to become director of the agency from 1991 to 1993 under President George H.W. Bush. He also served on the National Security Council under Henry Kissinger in the mid-1970s. He was a player and an observer during some of the most formative experiences shaping U.S. policy during the Cold War, many of which he detailed in his book From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War (Simon & Schuster, 1996).

It is uncertain whether Gates will shake up the senior staff at the Pentagon. The Associated Press reported that he has asked Deputy Secretary Gordon England to stay on in his job, but other top officials have already announced they will leave, including top intelligence official Stephen Cambone.

President Bush has said he will wait until January to issue a revised strategy for Iraq, in order to give Gates time to weigh in.

Katherine McIntire Peters contributed to this report.

COMMENTS

• This article states, "President Bush has said he will wait until January to issue a revised strategy for Iraq, in order to give Gates time to weigh in." Bush has already stated on numerous occasions that he does not intend to withdraw from Iraq. Bush says a loss in Iraq is not acceptable, and winning is the only option. If Bush is being honest (that would be a first), why would he wait until January to announce a "new direction" in Iraq? If winning is the only option, what difference would Gates' opinion make? What difference would the opinion of all the generals/strategists make? Bush announced his intentions about Iraq as rumors of the ISG report began to surface. Losing is not an option. In other words, withdrawing is not an option. The only advice Gates can give (in January) is to stay the course and send more soldiers. Bush will not allow his newly sworn-in Defense secretary to utter one word in opposition to Bush's Iraq policy. Even the Democrats (who I supported) are turning on the voters. Our representatives no longer represent us. It's pretty pathetic when Americans send a clear signal on a particular issue only to be ignored. Oh yeah -- the Democrats loved being put back in power, but as usual once they get the power they do as they wish and forget what/who put them there. Had Iraq attacked us I would be silent. But not only did they not attack us. Iraq was actually a much more peaceful/stable place before Bush decided to lie his way into the country. Gates is about to become responsible for many American deaths in Iraq, I don't envy him at all. Un-Civil Servant GovExec.com reader Posted December 18, 2006 8:50 PM
• Hey Bob - If we are so professional why haven't we won a war in over five decades? Why can't you get a clean audit on your financial statements? Why do you double pay on contracts? Why do you waste so much money on staff travel? Why are you implementing NSPS against all employee input and court stoppages? Where is the beef? I think your professionals stink and you should get rid of most of them! That was Rummy's error from day one -- he didn't get rid of the incompetent professionals he had to rely on! Taxpayer Posted December 19, 2006 6:34 AM