Who Is Denis McDonough? Obama To Appoint Him Chief Of Staff

President Barack Obama will be shuffling more familiar, trusted faces to new positions within the White House, as reports surface that longtime aide Denis McDonough will be named the new chief of staff.

An announcement is expected around noon today along with other West Wing shake-ups that could include communications director Dan Pfeifferbeing promoted to senior adviser, and deputy communications director Jennifer Palmieri taking Pfeiffer’s old job.

McDonough will be repalcing current Chief of Staff Jack Lew, whom Obama nominated to be the next Secretary of the Treasury.

Two years ago, McDonough, 43, was appointed assistant to the President and deputy national security advisor. In October 2010, Obama said he counted on McDonough’s expertise and national security issues for years.

“He possesses a remarkable intellect, irrepressible work ethic, and a sense of collegiality that has earned him the respect of his colleagues,” Obama said at the time, calling McDonough “indispensable.”

The Obama-McDonough relationship dates back even further to the 2008 campaign, during which McDonough counseled the President on foreign policy issues.

According to White House information, McDonough served as chief of staff of the National Security Staff from September 2009. Before that, he served as deputy national security advisor for strategic communications. And before his role as senior advisor on foreign policy issues for the Obama 2008 campaign, McDonough was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Among McDonough’s congressional roles are foreign policy advisor for former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.

McDonough, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, is a St. John’s University graduate and holds a master’s from Georgetown University.

According to USA Today, here are the other expected new appointees:

-- Rob Nabors - Deputy White House Chief of Staff for Policy

-- Tony Blinken - Taking McDonough's old job as Deputy National Security Adviser

-- Danielle Gray - Cabinet Secretary

-- Katy Kale - Assistant to the President for Management and Administration

-- Lisa Monaco - Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. This is dependent on John Brennan being confirmed as director of the CIA. Brennan’s confirmation hearing in the Senate is set for next month.

-- Jennifer Palmieri - Communications Director

-- Dan Pfeiffer - Senior Advisor to the President

-- Miguel Rodriguez - Director of Legislative Affairs

-- David Simas - Deputy Senior Advisor for Communications and Strategy