Pentagon’s Kirby appointed State Department spokesman

Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday announced former Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby will be the agency’s new spokesman.

“John has always – intuitively, instinctively – gravitated toward diplomacy, and I know that he is looking forward to that focus as he retires from the Navy and moves into civilian life,” Kerry said in a statement.

Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel picked Kirby, who has served as a Navy officer since 1986, to be his press secretary in late 2013. He served the Defense Department’s top spokesman until February when Ashton Carter was confirmed to be the new Pentagon chief.

Kirby previously served as chief of information for the U.S. Navy and spokesman for former Joint Chief of Staff chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

He replaces State spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who left the department in March to become the White House’s communications director.