Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney, USN (Ret.), who has served as Pentagon chief of staff since January 2017 abruptly resigned from his post on Sunday.
"After two years in the Pentagon, I've decided the time is right to return to the private sector. It has been an honor to serve again alongside the men and women of the Department of Defense," Sweeney said in a statement.
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan took to Twitter to thank Sweeney for his service:
1 of 2: I greatly appreciate Kevin Sweeney’s service to our nation, first as a Navy officer of more than 30 years, and then as the Chief of Staff for the Secretary of Defense for the past two years.
— Acting SecDef Pat Shanahan (@DepSecDef) January 6, 2019
2 of 2: As he steps down to reenter the private sector, we’re going to miss him here in the Pentagon. We know great things are in store for him and his family.
— Acting SecDef Pat Shanahan (@DepSecDef) January 6, 2019
Sweeney's departure comes at the heels of Defense Secretary James Mattis' resignation last month.