Raymond Mabus, the longest serving Navy secretary since World War I, announced that he will retired from his post within the next year.

Mabus announced his departure Tuesday while speaking at the House Appropriations Committee hearing regarding the Navy’s budget. Since taking up his position in May 2009, Mabus has served a total of 2,478 days. He didn’t state which date would be his last day at work.

“This is my eighth time — which may be a record, and I’m not sure anybody wants it — and my last to appear before you,” Mabus said. “Thank you for all your courtesies to me and thank you for all that you have done for the Department of the Navy.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of our sailors, our Marines, our civilians,” Mabus continued. “I am also proud of the many steps we’ve taken and the changes we’ve made to try to ensure, working with Congress, that the Navy and Marine Corps in the future remains the greatest expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known.”

Perhaps the end of Mabus’ lengthy tenure of Navy secretary was spurred by a desire to escape constant controversy. Since the Marine Corps published the lackluster results of a gender integration experiment, Mabus and Marine leaders have butted heads over the inclusion of female Marines in combat and infantry units.

At one point, Marine veteran and congressman Rep. Duncan Hunter wanted Mabus to be fired from his position.

While Mabus’ hard line on integrating women into combat roles is largely unchanged, he has backed off on some issues. In December he suggested that men and women train together at Marine boot camp. After speaking to Marine officials, however, Mabus stopped pushing the issue and allowed men and woman to train separately in order to increase their success.

Other reforms spearheaded by Raymond Mabus include the Great Green Fleet and the Navy’s short-lived 18-week maternity leave policy.

“For me, leading the Department of the Navy is the greatest honor of my life,” Mabus said Tuesday.

[Military.com]