(VOVworld) – US President Barack Obama on Friday nominated 60-year-old former Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to lead the Pentagon.

US former Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter was nominated  to lead the Pentagon. (Photo: Xinhua/AP)

Carter, if confirmed by the Senate, will be Obama's fourth Defense Secretary to replace Chuck Hagel, who announced his resignation last month. Several congressmen from two parties raised their support for Obama’s nomination. The new Defense Secretary will join Obama’s national security advisory committee and be responsible for resolving a number of key issues, including the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.