No. 2 Pentagon Official Quits

The Associated Press reports:

In a further shakeup of U.S. defense leaders, the Pentagon's second-ranking official has told The Associated Press that he intends to resign.

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn said he agreed to remain in his post until the new Defense Secretary Leon Panetta chooses Lynn's successor — by late summer or early fall.

Lynn said he told Panetta last Friday — the Pentagon chief's first day on the job — that he planned to resign for personal reasons.

The 57-yeare-old Lynn said he told Panetta that he would be best served by having a deputy who was willing to stay at least through President Barack Obama's first term. Lynn has been the Pentagon deputy since February 2009.