By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama nominated a Republican in the House of Representatives Tuesday to become the secretary of the Army.
John M. McHugh has served as the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, and has served in Congress since 1993. He becomes the latest member of the opposition party to join Obama’s Democratic administration.
If the Senate confirms the nominee to the post, McHugh will report to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration.
Obama also brought in former Republican Representative Ray LaHood to head the Department of Transportation. A Republican nominee to run the Commerce Department, Senator Judd Gregg, withdrew his bid, saying his differences with Obama were too great.