Leon E. Panetta

107_2014_ap120523194508201.jpg

Departed: Obama Cabinet members, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey (left), former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (center) and former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta (right) have publicly aired their grievances with the president. Mr. Panetta's new book, "Worthy Fights," criticizes Mr. Obama's policies. (Associated Press)

Sam Locklear.jpg

**FILE** Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta meets with USPACOM Commander, Adm. Sam Locklear, on a visit to PACOM Headquarters at Camp Smith, Hi., May 31, 2012. (DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo)

20130226-214317-pic-453465512.jpg

Leon E. Panetta

20130213-221114-pic-720616949.jpg

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said the Distinguished Warfare Medal is for service members who “are physically removed” from the fight and whose contributions “do not involve acts of valor of physical risk that combat entails.” (Associated Press)

PANETTA_20130207_26.jpg

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (left) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey (right) testify Feb. 7, 2013, on Capitol Hill before the United States Committee on Armed Services to answer questions on the Department of Defense response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9178

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9177

** FILE ** Sen. Mark Udall (left), Colorado Democrat, talks with Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta before Mr. Panetta testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9176

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (left) and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey (right), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9175

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (center) and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey (right), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrive to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9174

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (left) and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey (right), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9173

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9171

A chart with the time line of the Benghazi attacks can be seen next to Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (right) and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey (left), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as they testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

PANETTA_20130207_9170

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta (left) and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, on the Defense Department's response to the attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)