Deputy Defense secretary won’t stay on with Obama

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England said Tuesday he will not stay on under the new Obama administration, saying it is “most appropriate” for the new administration to name its own team.

President-elect Barack Obama on Monday announced that he would keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates, effectively starting a guessing game as to whether England was going to stay on as the second highest-ranking official at the Pentagon. It is widely believed that whoever will become the deputy will later succeed Gates as the next Defense secretary.

{mosads}”I congratulate President-elect Obama for retaining Bob Gates as secretary, and I salute Bob Gates for his continued commitment,” England said in a press release on Tuesday.

“However, it’s time for me to leave. When I came into government in early 2001, I anticipated serving for two to four years. After almost eight years, it’s now time for me to turn over the reins to a successor.”

England said he will stay for some time past Jan. 20, if requested, to ensure a smooth transition.