Obama Names Foreign Policy Aide McDonough New Chief Of Staff

Newly appointed White House chief of staff Denis McDonough

President Barack Obama has appointed his longtime foreign policy aide Denis McDonough to be his next White House chief of staff.

Obama made the announcement appearing with McDonough at the White House on January 25.

McDonough is taking over the key role from Jack Lew, whom Obama nominated to be his next Treasury secretary.

McDonough, 43, was one of Obama's advisers on his 2008 campaign and has served as the second-highest ranking official at the National Security Council for the past two years.

Earlier on January 25, a White House official said McDonough had played a key role in every major national security decision of the administration.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa