U.S. defense officials were expecting Egypt's new president to name his own defense team, and hoped that the country's civilian and military leaders could work together, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said on Monday.

"It's important for both the military and civilian leaders in Egypt to work together to address the economic and security challenges facing that country," Little said.

"We had expected (Egyptian) President (Mohamed) Morsi to coordinate changes in the military leadership," said the press secretary, adding that the United States and the Department of Defense, in particular, look forward to "continuing a very close relationship" with the Egyptian military.

Morsi announced on Sunday that the head of military intelligence, Abdel Fatah el Seisy, would replace Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as defense minister and leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). SCAF had effectively led Egypt after last year's downfall of former president Hosni Mubarak until Morsi took office in June.

Morsi also replaced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Sami Enan and the leaders of the navy, air force and air defense branch. SCAF said on Monday that the decisions made by Morsi to reshuffle the military leadership are normal.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has not yet spoken to the new Egyptian defense minister, "but looks forward to doing so at the earliest possible moment," Little said.

The United States gives the Egyptian military an annual aid of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, while the military also controls a significant share of the Egyptian economy.