Dana White out as chief Pentagon spokeswoman

Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Dana White (Department of Defense/U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

Charles E. "Charlie" Summers, Jr., a former Maine Republican politician and Navy reserve captain, has been named as the new chief spokesman for the Pentagon, replacing Dana White, who held the post under outgoing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

In a one-sentence announcement Monday, the Pentagon's office of press affairs said Summers "will be the Acting Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs beginning 1 January" to serve as the principal media assistant to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan.

The replacement of White, who had a sometimes testy relationship with Pentagon reporters, had been expected since Mattis announced his resignation on Dec. 20. Summers had been serving as Principal Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

Shanahan, the Deputy Defense Secretary and No. 2 at the Pentagon, was President Donald Trump's choice to serve as Acting Secretary until a permanent successor is nominated. Shanahan's appointment as Acting Secretary was to take effect at midnight Monday.

In a message post to Twitter Monday, White said "I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by this administration to serve alongside Secretary Mattis, our service members and all the civilians who support them. It has been my honor and privilege. Stay safe and God bless."

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