Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Dr. Michael Vickers notified President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter that he will be retiring from federal service, and leave the Department of Defense, effective April 30.
Vickers, who assumed the responsibilities as undersecretary of defense for intelligence March 17, 2011, has been the longest serving undersecretary of defense for intelligence in the department’s history.
Previously, he served as the department’s first and only assistant secretary of defense for special operations/low-intensity & interdependent capabilities from July 2007 to March 2011, and acting undersecretary of defense for intelligence from January 2011 to March 2011.
Vickers’ federal service has spanned nearly four decades; serving in a variety of positions as a national security decision maker and intelligence community leader. In addition to his tenure at the Department of Defense, he also served in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces non-commissioned officer and Special Forces officer, and was a CIA operations officer. Vickers has decided to retire to take on new challenges, and spend more time with his family.
"Mike has served four secretaries of defense with distinction, and I have had the privilege of working closely with him on some of the toughest challenges to our national security. On behalf of all the men and women of the Defense Department, I thank Mike for his dedication to our mission, and for his many years of service to our country” said Secretary Carter.
Vickers noted that it has been a great privilege to serve in the department and with the intelligence community.
“I am honored to have been able to help Presidents Bush and Obama, as well as our Defense Secretaries Gates, Panetta, Hagel and Carter and DNI Clapper strengthen our national security,” said Vickers.