Close on the heels of the resignation of Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet, the deputy director in charge of the espionage agency's clandestine operations, James L Pavitt, has announced that he is retiring.

Pavitt, a 31-year veteran of CIA, who has served as the Agency's Deputy Director for Operations for nearly five years, announced that he will be retiring this summer, the

Central Intelligence Agency said in a press release on June 4 from its headquarters in McLean.

Pavitt, 58, who was named DDO in August 1999 after serving as the Associate Deputy Director for Operations for two years, has served longer in that position than any DDO in the last 30 years.

The CIA release said Pavitt made the decision to retire about a month ago and maintained his departure was unrelated to Tenet's resignation announcement.

In remarks today, Pavitt said he was "proud of the risk they have taken and the extraordinary work they do...to keep our nation safe."

Pavitt, who joined the CIA in 1973, served in a variety of assignments in Europe, Asia, and at Headquarters. In 1990, he was detailed to the National Security Council as the Director for Intelligence Programmes. In 1992, he was appointed Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and National Security Council Senior Director for Intelligence Programmes.

Though Tenet gave "personal reasons" and Pavitt "family reasons" for their resignations, media reports said the departures have strengthened calls for change in the CIA.