Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State will leave her role as senator and move into the secretary of state position. Sen. Clinton was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election. She has served as the junior senator from New York since January 3, 2001. As First Lady of the United States, she played a major role in advocating for the establishment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act, the Foster Care Independence Act, as well as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Robert Gates, Defense Secretary will keep his current role as defense secretary for at least the first year of Obama’s presidency. President Bush swore him in as the 22nd secretary of defense on December 18, 2006. Gates was previously the president of Texas A&M University. From 1991 to 1993, Secretary Gates served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In 1966, Gates joined the CIA and served for almost 27 years as intelligence professional.

Jim Jones, National Security Adviser Jones is currently serving the Bush administration as the Chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States. In 2007, General Jones served as Chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq. He also was appointed by the United States Secretary of State as a special envoy for Middle East Security. Jones is the former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and the Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM) (2003-2006) and he served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps (July 1999-January 2003).

Susan Rice, Ambassador to the United Nations During President Bill Clinton’s second term, Rice served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and on the Nation Security Council. During Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, Rice served as a senior foreign policy adviser.

Eric Holder, Attorney General Eric Holder served as a senior legal adviser to President-elect Obama prior to his 2008 presidential campaign and during it. He is also one of three members on Obama’s vice-presidential selection committee. Holder is a former judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (appointed by President Reagan in 1988), a United States Attorney (appointed by President Bill Clinton in1993) and Deputy Attorney General of the United States (1997).

Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano is currently the democratic governor of Arizona. Originally elected in 2002 and reelected in 2006. She is the third female governor of Arizona and the first woman to be re-elected. From 2006 to 2007, Napolitano served as the Chair of the National Governors Association. On November 5, 2008, she was named to the advisory board of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.