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SecNav to stay after Obama takes office

Navy Secretary Donald Winter has agreed to stay in his post after the inauguration of President-elect Obama, Winter said Monday, and is planning to remain until March 13, unless a replacement arrives before then.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked Winter, the secretaries of the Army and the Air Force, and a number of other top Defense Department officials to stay on with him into the Obama administration, Winter said, but he would not comment on reports about any other official staying or going.

Winter said the secretaries were asked to stay on for six to eight weeks to “minimize the disruptive nature of the transition process,” which explains the cutoff date of March 13. If Obama can nominate a replacement who is confirmed by the Senate before then, Winter said he will step aside.

In an interview with Navy Times reporters and editors Monday, Winter said he “had very mixed feelings” about the approaching end of his tenure.

“I have no regrets whatsoever,” Winter said, and he described himself as being “incredibly impressed” with the sailors and Marines he’s met on the job. Unlike people he encountered in the private sector, they weren’t “employees,” he said — they were members.

On the other hand, “This is not a fun, fun job,” Winter said, and he recalled attending the wake for a sailor he’d met only a few weeks before on a trip to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. He also reiterated that he was displeased with the shipbuilding problems he’s encountered during his term, which have included quality problems aboard the first two San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and delays and cost overruns for the first two littoral combat ships.