Acting Deputy Secretary England Relinquishes Top Navy Post

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NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1337-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec 29, 2005 Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry(703)428-0711

Acting Deputy Secretary England Relinquishes Top Navy Post

The Department of Defense announced today that Secretary of the Navy and Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England has relinquished
his Navy secretary post and will continue to serve as acting deputy secretary of defense.



England served as acting deputy secretary of defense since May 2005, after being nominated to the post by President George W. Bush. England
served a total of 48 months as the leader of the Navy Department over his two terms as secretary of the Navy, which were separated by his service as the first deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. For the past eight months he has served in both the Navy post and as acting deputy secretary of defense.



England said, "It has been a profound honor to serve with the magnificent men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. I am most privileged to be able to continue serving our armed forces as the deputy
to Secretary Rumsfeld."



England, only the second man in history to serve twice as Navy secretary, will be followed by Under Secretary of the Navy Dionel M. Aviles who will serve as acting secretary of the Navy effective today. Donald Winter, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, will be sworn in as the
74th Secretary of the Navy on Jan. 3, 2006.