Defense Deputy Decides to Depart

Defense Secretary Robert Gates may have agreed to stick around in the Obama administration, but that doesn't mean that other high-ranking Pentagon officials will remain in their jobs.

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England announced Tuesday that he will not continue serving with Gates under Obama.

"It’s time for me to leave," England said. "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. Also, it’s most appropriate for the new administration to name its own deputy.”

England, of course, oversaw the Pentagon's efforts to implement the controversial National Security Personnel System for its civilian employees -- and, most recently, its decision to drop plans to convert employees represented by labor unions to the system.