Leon Panetta Unanimously Confirmed as Next Defense Secretary 4.09K Jim Newell 06/21/11 04:07PM Filed to: Briefly Briefly Leon Panetta Defense Department Senate confirmation Appic Tweetg Who says the Senate confirmation process is broken? Today the chamber confirmed Leon Panetta as the next secretary of defense by a vote of 100-0. He'll take over when Sec. Robert Gates leaves at the end of June.