WASHINGTON -- President Obama will nominate White House counter-terrorism official John Brennan to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran, would replace David Petraeus, who resigned last year after acknowledging an extramarital affair.

Obama plans to make the Brennan announcement at the same time he nominated former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary.

"John Brennan's career of service and extraordinary record has prepared him to be an outstanding director of the CIA," said a White House statement. "Since 9/11, he has been on the front lines in the fight against al Qaeda. Over the past four years, he has been involved in virtually all major national security issues and will be able to hit the ground running at CIA."

Obama considered Brennan for the CIA post after his 2008 election, but Brennan withdrew his name after critics questioned his connections to enhanced interrogation techniques used by CIA during the George W. Bush administration.

Brennan denied involvement in waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods, and has spoken out against them.

USA Today