Stanley Out

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley has resigned from his post, the Pentagon announced today. Stanley, a retired two-star Marine general who took office in February 2010, plans to leave the Pentagon within the next two weeks, said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Doug Wilson. JoAnn Rooney, the principal deputy under secretary for personnel and readiness, will serve as acting under secretary until a successor is named, Wilson said.

The Pentagon’s statement quotes from Stanley’s resignation letter, which does not give a reason for his departure but states that the office he’s leaving is “on the right path.”

In today’s statement, Wilson said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes Stanley “has been a devoted public servant -- including as a Marine -- for all of his professional career.” Panetta has “praised Stanley as an advocate for America's men and women in uniform,” Wilson said, noting the defense secretary accepted the resignation and plans after his current trip in Asia to “personally convey his appreciation” for Stanley's service.

The Washington Post reported on Aug. 31 that the Defense Department inspector general was investigating reports that Stanley “hurt morale by dismissing or reassigning dozens of top officials, spent lavishly on a new conference room, and offended staff members when he used the word ‘mongoloidism’ to describe people of low intelligence.”