In the midst of the current shutdown struggle, the Department of Defense announced new changes to its administration and the military community at large. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel revealed in a statement that Ash Carter is resigning from his post as Deputy Secretary of Defense, effective Dec. 4.
According to the Pentagon, Hagel met with Carter the morning of Oct. 10 to approve his resignation. The defense secretary thanked Carter for his service, which began at the start of the Obama administration as the undersecretary of defense for acquisition technology and logistics, increasing the agency's buying power and fortifying its protection on growing security issues, such as cyber attacks.
"His compassion, love, and determination to overcome any and all bureaucratic obstacles earned him abiding respect and appreciation," Hagel said in his statement. "I am confident that the Department, and the country, will continue to benefit from Ash Carter's service in the months and years ahead."
As deputy secretary of defense, Carter most recently led the investigation of the Washington Naval Yard shooting in September. Before joining the Defense Department, he worked in academia, overseeing the International and Global Affairs faculty at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.