"Based upon his outstanding service to the country and his demonstrated ability to lead, President Trump intends to nominate Patrick M. Shanahan to be the secretary of defense," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Thursday.

Shanahan said he was honored by Trump's plans and vowed to "continue the aggressive implementation" of the National Defense Strategy, as well as to keep modernizing the US military to keep it "lethal."

"I remain committed to modernizing the force so our remarkable Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have everything they need to keep our military lethal and our country safe," he said in a statement.

Shanahan was elevated to the Pentagon chief's job back in January in acting capacity, after his predecessor James Mattis abruptly resigned over policy disagreements with Trump. While Mattis initially planned to leave his post late in February, Trump cut his term short, effectively kicking him out and entrusting the post to his deputy.

Before ending up behind the Pentagon's wheel, Shanahan served as deputy defense secretary. In mid-2017, the nomination of the man who had spent three decades with Boeing – one of the five corporations who dominate the US defense sector – raised a few eyebrows.

The allegations of Shanahan lobbying for his former company ultimately led to an investigation by the Pentagon's Inspector General's office, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing late in April.

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