Obama announces national security team picks

Updated at 4:50 p.m. ET

President Obama announced a new national security team. Leon Panetta, a former White House chief of staff, budget director and congressman, is Obama's pick to replace Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring.

Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is the president's choice to replace Panetta at the CIA. Marine Corps. Lt. Gen. John Allen will replace Petraeus in Afghanistan and the new U.S. ambassador there will be veteran diplomat Ryan Crocker.

Scroll down to the bottom to read about Obama's news conference from its beginning.

Updated at 3:39 p.m.

Obama once again thanks the families of the men he has chosen, cites their sacrifice and says, "Michelle can attest to that."

Updated at 3:38 p.m.

Crocker says he thought he had found a permanent home at Texas A&M University but is very proud to be called back to serve as ambassador.

Updated at 3:36 p.m.

Allen says he is "mindful of the significance" of his new responsibility in Afghanistan. "I understand well the demands of this mission," he says. He thanks Obama for his confidence.

Updated at 3:35 p.m.

Petraeus says he is honored to take on the CIA and notes its "vital" service to the country. When he returns to Afghanistan tomorrow, Petraeus says, he will do so with "guarded optimism" about the progress made there.

Updated at 3:33 p.m.

Panetta promises Obama he will give sound advice and be a "faithful advocate" for the men and women in the military.

Updated at 3:32 p.m.

Panetta says his "respect and admiration" for the armed forces has grown since he was in the Army decades ago. He says the nation is at war and "job one" will be to make sure it remains the most powerful nation in the world. It also is a "time for hard choices." Read: budget cuts.

Updated at 3:30 p.m.

Panetta thanks Gates as a "public servant without equal." He calls his service among the most "consequential" and says it will go down in history as a great example of leadership. Panetta thanks the "good men and women of the CIA for all they do" without recognition and credit. He says it has been the "highest honor" of his career to lead them, and he wishes all Americans could know how vital their work is.

Updated at 3:28 pm.

Gates thanks former president George W. Bush for first naming him Defense secretary and Obama for asking him to stay "on and on and on." He says the job has been "the greatest honor of my life" and praises the troops. He says Panetta is the best possible choice to replace him.

Updated at 3:26 p.m.

Obama says the men will bring "continuity and unity of effort" to the nation's efforts overseas and urges the Senate to confirm them as swiftly as possible. "We are a nation still at war," Obama says.

Updated at 3:25 p.m.

Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen will take over command of coalition forces in Afghanistan and "one of the nation's most respected" diplomats, Ryan Crocker, will take over as the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.

Updated at 3:24 p.m.

Obama turns to Petraeus' nomination to the CIA. "He knows that intelligence must be timely, accurate and acted upon quickly" as a lifetime consumer of intelligence in the military. The commander of troops in Afghanistan is uniquely qualified to lead the CIA, in part because of his knowledge of the Middle East, Obama says.

Updated at 3:23 p.m.

Obama cites Leon Panetta's patriotism and leadership. He says he's played a "decisive role" in the fight against extremism and al-Qaeda as CIA chief. He thanks him for taking on another job for his country and postponing a return to his home in California.

Updated at 3:20 p.m.

Obama notes that retiring Defense Secretary Robert Gates has served under seven presidents. "As a grateful nation, we can all agree that Bob has more than earned the right to return to private life," Obama says. He calls Gates one of the "finest" Defense secretaries in history.

Updated at 3:15 p.m.

President Obama opens with condolences to those harmed in the tornadoes and storms that have raged across the South; he will visit Alabama tomorrow to meet with the governor and offer help.

See photos of: Barack Obama, David Petraeus

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