A confluence of interests, I think. Gates was CIA director, and later served as Deputy National Security Adviser for G.H.W. Bush, who himself had served as D/CIA back in 1976. Both men are members of the Council on Foreign Relations (Progressive internationalists). Gates also was the interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University from 1999 to 2001.
But don't fret: Leon Panetta will be a big improvement... /sarc. Just when you think it can't get any worse with this Administration... it does.