Admiral John Kirby is being tapped as the new State Department spokesman, just two months after it was reported that he would be replaced as the public face of the Pentagon.
According to the Associated Press, Kirby replaces Jen Psaki, who took over as White House communications director after Jen Palmieri left for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Kirby will take over the post after he retires from the military.
The timing of Kirby’s move to Foggy Bottom is unknown.
The news means State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf has been passed over for the job. The Daily Mail previously reported that a string of poor media appearances took Harf out of the running.
It was reported in February that Kirby would replaced as the spokesman at the Pentagon when new Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter took over for Chuck Hagel. According to The New York Times, Carter wanted a civilian to take over the role as the department’s spokesperson.