U.S. Sen. John Kerry, once widely speculated to be on President-elect Barack Obama's shortlist for secretary of state, congratulated the eventual nominee, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and the other newly nominated members of Obama's national security team on Monday.

Obama named his national security team picks Monday morning at a press conference in Chicago.

"As secretary of state, my friend and colleague Hillary Clinton will bring her years of experience and her remarkable intellect to the effort to restore our alliances and advance the president's agenda in the world," Kerry, a Boston Democrat, said.

Kerry is likely to work closely with Clinton and other members of this team as the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"President-elect Obama has chosen a terrific national security team to protect our security and help restore America's rightful place in the world," Kerry said. "I look forward to working with my distinguished colleague Sen. Richard Lugar to ensure a swift and fair confirmation process and working closely with the new Administration."

Kerry also commended Obama's other nominees: General Jim Jones as national security advisor, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary, Eric Holder as attorney general, Susan Rice as ambassador to the United Nations and Bob Gates, as he retains his post as secretary of defense.