WASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT-ELECT Barak Obama named four people to top Pentagon posts on Thursday, setting in motion the transition at the only department with a Republican in the top job.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates urged quick Senate confirmation to ensure a smooth wartime transition.

The four were Mr William Lynn as deputy defence secretary; Ms Michele Flournoy as undersecretary of defence for policy; Mr Robert Hale as Pentagon comptroller, and Jeh Charles Johnson, as general counsel.

'I am confident that these distinguished individuals have the expertise and commitment needed to help me implement a sustainable national security strategy that combats 21st century threats and keeps the American people safe,' Mr Obama said in a statement.

Mr Lynn, a senior vice-president for government operations and strategy at Raytheon, had been widely rumoured to be the top candidate for the number two post at the Pentagon, which traditionally has gone to people with strong management background.

He served as the Pentagon's comptroller from 1997 to 2000 during former president Bill Clinton's second term, and before that as its director of programme analysis and evaluation.

Flournoy, who led Mr Obama's transition team at the Pentagon, was a top defense strategist in the Clinton administration and an architect of the sweeping strategy reviews that the Pentagon conducts every four years.

She went on to establish the Center for New American Security, a think tank 'dedicated to advancing a strong, centrist national security strategy', according to Mr Obama's transition office.

Hale is a former comptroller of the air force and current executive director of the American Society of Military Comptrollers.

Mr Johnson is a former air force general counsel in the Clinton administration, and a former federal prosecutor.

Gates 'interviewed each of them, came away impressed with their personal character and professional credentials, and recommended the president-elect hire them,' said Mr Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary.

Early confirmation of the four would give Gates a boost in dealing with at least two immediate issues - Guantanamo and the 2010 Pentagon budget, which is usually presented in early February.

Mr Gates has already ordered aides to begin drawing up plans for closing the 'war on terror' prison, but having a new top policy chief and general counsel in place would help put Mr Obama's stamp on such a move.

Mr Gates is also likely to focus much of his time dealing with major weapons acqusition programmes, which have been beset by spiraling costs at a time of growing pressures to cut the Pentagon's budget.

'He has some issues ... that he punted, he thought, to the next secretary, but he's going to have to be the recipient of those kicks,' said Mr Morrell.

Mr Morrell cited the air force's deadlocked competition for a new aerial refuelling plane, and its campaign for more F-22 fighters, which Gates has resisted.

Having former air force budgeteers on his team could aid in that fight.

Thursday's appointments were only the first four of about 230 political appointments that Mr Obama has to fill at the Pentagon.

Mr Morrell said about 140 current appointees have said they will serve until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate. -- AFP