WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will announce Denis McDonough as the new White House chief of staff on Friday afternoon, along with a mix of other staff promotions, according to a White House official.
Obama will make the announcement at 12:10 p.m. in the East Room. McDonough, who is currently Obama's deputy national security adviser, will replace Jack Lew, who the president has tapped to be his Treasury secretary.
In a statement, the official described McDonough as one of Obama's "closest and most trusted advisors for nearly a decade, dating back to when he helped set up then Senator Barack Obama’s Senator office." The official also praised McDonough's role on Obama's national security team, and his experience in working with Congress:
Denis has played a key role in all of the major national security decisions--from ending the war in Iraq to winding down the war in Afghanistan; from our response to natural disasters in Haiti and Japan; to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.' As a veteran of Capitol Hill, Denis understands the importance of reaching across the aisle to make progress for the American people--whether it’s on jobs and economy, health care or education, reducing the deficit or addressing climate change.
Later Friday, the White House will also announce nine aides taking new positions at senior levels at the White House. Here is a breakdown of their new roles:
Rob Nabors - Assistant to the president and deputy white house chief of staff for policy
Dan Pfeiffer – Assistant to the president and senior adviser
Jennifer Palmieri – Assistant to the president and communications director
Tony Blinken – Assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser
Danielle Gray – Assistant to the president and cabinet secretary
Katy Kale – Assistant to the president for management and administration
Lisa Monaco – Assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism (upon confirmation of John Brennan as DCIA)
Miguel Rodriguez – Assistant to the president and director of legislative affairs
David Simas – Assistant to the president and deputy senior adviser for communications and strategy
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