Bob, William and Mary

Turns out former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' next job will be less than three hours away from the Pentagon. Gates has been named the next chancellor of the College of William & Mary, his alma mater. In a statement released today, Gates noted he is "deeply honored" to accept the job.

"The time I spent at William & Mary as an undergraduate student shaped my life and I look forward to working with the students, staff, faculty and the William & Mary community," Gates said.

President Obama congratulated Gates on his new position. "In Bob, one of our nation’s oldest colleges has found one of our nation’s finest public servants," Obama said. "I’m confident that Bob will bring to this new role the same sense of duty and personal integrity that I and other presidents valued during his distinguished career in government. As he did at Texas A&M and the Department of Defense, Bob will again help lead an institution devoted to our nation’s most precious resource -- our young men and women." From 2002 to 2006, Gates was president of Texas A&M University.