TAMPA, FL - Today the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the resignation of its top commander, General James N. Mattis, who plans to retire from the Marine Corps in a matter of months. Mattis is best known for commanding the 1st Marine Division during the opening phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but has also been criticized by the media for his outspoken opinions and controversial quotes.

Some believe this to be the reason he was passed over for promotion to Commandant of the Marine Corps in 2010.

General Mattis, 62, is circumspect about his upcoming retirement. "I postponed my retirement to lead CENTCOM, but it’s just time to move on. Years ago I was called to serve my country by means of conferences and briefings, but I feel like, after forty years of that, I've done my duty."

Mattis, pausing in a dead hang to speak with reporters during a set of weighted pull-ups, continued, "Now it's time to admit that two hour update meetings are a young man's game, hang it up, and live out my next sixty years as a private citizen back on the world’s battlefields, away from the constant stress of the office, like Al Gray would do."