President Barack Obama announced on Friday that he has nominated Pentagon veteran Ashton “Ash” Carter to become the next secretary of defense, a move that had been widely reported following the resignation of Chuck Hagel. Carter, 60, had served for two years as deputy defense secretary before stepping down last December, and is highly regarded for his intricate understanding of Pentagon bureaucracy and astute ability to deal with Congress. Before becoming the Pentagon’s second highest official, Carter was the acquisition…