Head of Justice Department’s national security division stepping down

The head of the Department of Justice’s national security division is stepping down, the agency announced Tuesday.

{mosads}Assistant Attorney General John Carlin, who is both the youngest and longest serving official to head the national security division, will be departing government effective October 15 to work in the private sector.

“John Carlin has been a trusted and tireless leader of the Justice Department’s National Security Division,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement. 

“He is wholly devoted to the department’ s most important mission – protecting our country against acts of terrorism and other national security threats – and he has set a high standard by relentlessly pursuing those who seek to harm our people and threaten our assets.”

Carlin, 43, has not revealed his private sector destination.

President Obama nominated Carlin to the position in 2014 and he was confirmed by the Senate in April of that year.

During his tenure, Carlin oversaw the prosecution of the Boston bombing cases, the investigation of the hacking into Sony Entertainment and the unprecedented indictment of five Chinese military members for economic espionage, according to his bio on the Justice website.

“The National Security Division surged over the years to tackle the diverse national security threats we face every day,” FBI Director James Comey said in a statement. 

“This evolution continued under John’s leadership, especially in the areas of cyber and the changing terrorism threat to the homeland. I wish John every success in his new role, and look forward to building on our partnership with the Division.”