Gates hastelah statedmenyatakan indi adalam lettersuratnya tokepada studentspara thatpelajar hebahawa willbeliau continueakan asmenyambungkan Presidenttugasnya ofsebagai Presiden Texas A&M untilsehingga completionselesai of theproses [[AdviceNasihat anddan consentsetuju|confirmationmendapat kepastian]] process.<ref>[http://www.tamu.edu/home/spotlight/gatesannouncement.html To the Aggie Family], Gates' first announcement, and acknowledgment to being nominated for Secretary of Defense</ref> Gates willakan nowmenghadapi facedahulu confirmationkepastian firstin thedaripada [[SenateJawatankuasa ArmedPerkhidmatan Services Committeebersenjata]], anddan ifsekiranya approveddiluluskan, byoleh satu aundi [[majoritymajoriti]] di dalam undi vote in the [[USenat A.S. Senate|Senate]].
