Panetta and the Press

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is scheduled Thursday afternoon to hold his first Pentagon press conference since taking office in July, Defense Department spokesman Col. David Lapan told reporters today.

Already it's been a busy week for the department's chief. Panetta issued a message this morning on DOD's budget, a subject likely to come up tomorrow.

And yesterday Panetta praised DOD acquisition chief Ashton Carter, the White House's choice to succeed Bill Lynn as deputy defense secretary. Noting Carter is "a top strategic thinker," Panetta added, "I look forward to having Ash as my partner as we drive solutions to the strategic management challenges facing the Department of Defense."