An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

Final preparations are made prior to President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony on the U.S. Capitol steps in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2009. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the presidential inauguration, a tradition dating back to George Washington's 1789 inauguration.

Final preparations are made prior to President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony.

Final preparations are made prior to President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony on the U.S. Capitol steps in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2009. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the presidential inauguration, a tradition dating back to George Washington's 1789 inauguration.

Photo Gallery