He is the new face of the Pentagon.

And between the National Security Personnel System, the war on terror, and Iraq, Eric Ruff says he's already hit the ground running.

The new Press Secretary at the Defense Department tells FederalNewsRadio he is well aware of the pressure the Defense Secretary faces from retired generals.

"I see my role as trying to make sure the public understands what the military and civilians have already accomplished, which is a great deal. We are moving into a fighting capability that is best-suited for the 21st century terror threat that we face."

And, Ruff says while there isn't a so-called "shake up" going on at the Pentagon, you are likely to see more new faces in the crowd at the Department of Defense.

"For the most part the secretary's senior leadership team has stayed together. But there may be some more folks who decide to move on. It has been, in many ways, a long haul. I'm not just talking about civilian leadership. I'm talking about the military, as well."

But, he says it is clear there is a strong sense of mission at DoD. He says everyone, civilian and military, are committed to working together to achieve a common goal.

Ruff did indicate that the war in Iraq isn't likely to end anytime soon.

"There is a firm belief here that the war is not going to be over in an instant, and that is something we need to focus on."

Ruff is no stranger to press briefings. He was previously a special assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Before that he was director of communications at the Interior Department and previously was communications director for Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.

Ruff also was press secretary for Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia and served in the first Bush administration, under President George H.W. Bush, where he worked in public affairs positions at the departments of Agriculture and Commerce.

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