Voting 93 to 5, the US Senate did not give Ashton Carter a hard time to become the new Secretary of Defense.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Carter, former number two at the Pentagon, unanimously as he promised to be a straight shooter with Congress and the President.

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Carter will take over the Department of Defense at a time that the United States is facing several complex national security challenges across the world.

Among his tough challenge will be the US's military campaign against the terror group ISIS. He will replace Chuck Hagel, who resigned after less than two years on the job.

Carter, a respected technocrat, has degrees in theoretical physics and medieval history from Yale and Oxford.

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona said Carter is one of the country's most respected defense professionals, respected by both the Republicans and the Democrats.

"I have no doubt the vote on Dr. Carter will be overwhelmingly favorable," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, in a floor speech. "He served as the day-to-day financial officer at the Pentagon. So he is one of the few people that understands, really understands, the complexities of the Pentagon's budget."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the armed services committee, said aside from not having served in the military, Carter was "made for this job."

"I think he's a person of impressive convictions and capability who's going to provide strong leadership," he said.

The nomination of Carter was seen as perhaps the best chance for a smooth confirmation process through the newly Republican-controlled Senate. Top Republicans, including McCain, had expressed admiration for him in recent years.

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