Reed not interested in Defense secretary job

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) is taking himself out of the running for secretary of Defense, saying he wants to remain in the Senate. 

{mosads}“Senator Reed loves his job and wants to continue serving the people of Rhode Island in the United States senate,” Reed spokesman Chip Unruh told the Providence Journal. “He has made it very clear that he does not wish to be considered for secretary of defense or any other Cabinet position. He just asked the people of Rhode Island to hire him for another six-year term and plans to honor that commitment.”

Reed, whose name has been mentioned in the past as a possible secretary of Defense, had been briefly floated as a replacement option after the announcement Monday that the current secretary, Chuck Hagel, is departing.

Reed served in the 82nd Airborne and taught at West Point. He is in line to become the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the new Congress.

He was easily reelected this year, and if he were to resign, a special election would have to be held for his seat. The defense industry is an important part of the Rhode Island economy, as a home to submarine construction.