Article snippet: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday said he will nominate Patrick Shanahan to be his second secretary of defense, putting an end to months of speculation about the former Boeing executive’s standing in the administration. Shanahan has been leading the Pentagon as acting secretary since Jan. 1, a highly unusual arrangement for arguably the most sensitive Cabinet position. He took over after Jim Mattis resigned. ‘‘Acting Secretary Shanahan has proven over the last several months that he is beyond qualified to lead the Department of Defense, and he will continue to do an excellent job,’’ White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Moments later, Shanahan spoke to reporters outside the Pentagon, saying he was very excited about the nomination and looking forward to a job he said requires him to ‘‘spin a lot of plates.’’ ‘‘The biggest challenge is balancing it all. For me it’s about practicing selectful neglect, so that we can stay focused on the future,’’ Shanahan said, adding with a grin, ‘‘I called my mom. She was super happy.’’ Indeed, in Shanahan’s tenure at the department he’s had to deal with a wide array of international hotspots, ranging from missile launches by North Korea to the sudden shift of military ships and aircraft to the Middle East to deal with potential threats from Iran. The announcement comes close on the heels of an investigation by the Defense Department’s inspector general over accusations that Shanahan had... Link to the full article to read more