Washington in a Flash: Changing of the Guard at Pentagon
Rob Bluey /
Robert Gates said goodbye to the Pentagon yesterday after serving two presidents and spending nearly five years as defense secretary. On his final day, President Obama surprised Gates with a Medal of Freedom. Leon Panetta takes over today after serving as CIA director since February 2009. He’ll be replaced at the CIA by Gen. David Petraeus, who won Senate confirmation on a 94-0 vote Thursday.