Obama Settles on Ashton Carter as Defense Secretary, Officials Say

— President Obama has settled on Ashton B. Carter to be the next defense secretary, senior administration officials said on Tuesday, but is not prepared to announce the move because the White House has not completed its vetting of him.

A former deputy defense secretary with a long history at the Pentagon — though no uniformed military service — Mr. Carter was on a short list of prospective defense secretaries from the moment that Chuck Hagel announced his resignation, under pressure, on Nov. 24.

Mr. Obama is not expected to formally announce Mr. Carter as his pick on Tuesday or Wednesday, but may do so by the end of the week, an administration official said.