Deputy Secretary England prepares his exit

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England announced Dec. 2 that he will step down from his post when the new presidential administration takes office, reports Stars and Stripes.

England said in a statement that after a long time in the position he was ready to move on. “When I came into government in early 2001, I anticipated serving for two to four years,” he said. “After almost eight years, it’s now time for me to turn over the reins to a successor.”

Defense Secretary Robert Gates accepted an offer on Dec. 1 from President-elect Barack Obama to remain in his position when the new administration takes office in January. The intent in retaining Gates is to instill continuity at the department while the military is involved in major conflicts overseas.