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CIA director to retire from military and stay at CIA

WASHINGTON
Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:15am EDT
Central Intelligence Agency Director Michael Hayden speaks to reporters upon his arrival in the Capitol for a meeting with the House Appropriations Committee's Select Intelligence Oversight Subcommittee hearing on CIA interrogation programs, in Washington December 13, 2007. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA Director Michael Hayden said on Wednesday he will retire from the U.S. Air Force but continue at the intelligence agency.

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"I recently informed the Department of Defense of my intention to retire from the United States Air Force," Hayden, a general, said in a note to CIA employees. "That will take effect on the first of July, nearly 39 years after I entered on active duty."

Hayden, who previously served as principal deputy director of national intelligence and head of the National Security Agency, has been the top CIA official since May 2006.

A CIA spokesman said it was not unprecedented for an active duty military officer to retire from the military and continue as CIA director. Adm. Stansfield Turner became CIA director in 1977, retired from the Navy in 1978 and stayed at the CIA until 1981.

(Reporting by James Vicini; Editing by Bill Trott)
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