WASHINGTON — Both Massachusetts senators praised President Obama’s decision to nominate Leon Panetta as his next secretary of defense and General David Petraeus as CIA director.
“While the country will miss the service of Secretary [Robert] Gates, Leon Panetta and General Petraeus are first-rate public servants whose reputations and records transcend party, and I expect broad approval and swift confirmations,’’ John F. Kerry, a Democrat and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.
Petraeus and Panetta have both served admirably in their current positions, Republican Scott Brown said. Panetta is the current head of the CIA and Petraeus is commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Their nominations will be submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will vote on whether to send the nominations to the full Senate for confirmation.
“I look forward to learning more about their views and goals for the future during their confirmation hearings,’’ said Brown, who is a member of the committee. He did not indicate how he would vote.
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