CANBERRA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Secretary of the Department of Defense Greg Moriarty will be recommended as the next Australian ambassador to the United States, according to the country's Foreign Minister's media release on Sunday.

Moriarty has served as secretary of the Department of Defense since 2017, and he was ambassador to Indonesia from 2010-2014 and ambassador to Iran from 2005-2008, said the release.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also announced his recommendation of Moriarty while speaking on ABC News. The appointment came after the current Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd decided to resign a year before the end of his term. ■