By Brett Neely, Minnesota Public Radio News

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama named a Minnesotan to one of the most powerful jobs in his administration on Friday when he announced Stillwater native Denis McDonough as his chief of staff.

During the president’s announcement in the East Room of the White House, the applause and cheering for McDonough was loud and hearty. It is a big promotion for a low-key staffer who has been part of Obama’s inner circle for years.

McDonough, 43, has been Obama’s deputy national security adviser.

“Part of the reason you saw such warmth and applause is that in addition to being an incredible talent and such a hard worker, Denis is also a pretty humble guy,” the president said. “To many of his friends and admirers, he’s still just ‘the dude’ from Stillwater, Minn.”

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