I know it's more or less a foregone conclusion that he'll be confirmed, but I'm not thrilled with the nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense for several reasons, but near the top of the list is this growing trend that DoD needs to be run by a military veteran or a Republican or both. This will be the second Republican to serve at the post under the Obama administration. Yes, I get the president's Team of Rivals penchant, but I worry about the trend. DoD can be run by anyone confirmable by Congress: even a liberal who never served in the military.
For the sake of precedent, Future Republican Presidents, it probably wouldn't hurt to get a few more of those into the mix.