Air Force Secretary Announces Resignation

In an expected move, the acting secretary of the Air Force announced his resignation Friday. Peter B. Teets has held the position since January, when he replaced Secretary James Roche. Teets is also leaving his position as director of the National Reconnaissance Office, the Pentagon agency that operates spy satellites. Roche quit under fire as secretary, leaving what some officials described as a leadership vacuum in the wake a contracting scandal involving Boeing. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has recommended to President Bush that he nominate Navy Secretary Gordon England as Air Force secretary, military officials have said. In a statement, Teets said, "I'm confident we've strengthened the world's greatest Air Force to continue providing air and space dominance for the 21st century." He will depart next week. Teets has worked for the Pentagon since December 2001. Peter B. Teets