The Pentagons top technology official and his deputy are resigning next month,a Defense Department official confirmed on Tuesday.

Mike Griffin, the Pentagon's first undersecretary of research and engineering, and his deputy, Lisa Porter, will leave July 10, the official said.

The resignations were first reported byInside Defense.

Griffin, who took on the role in early 2018, and Porter said in a letter to staff that a private-sector opportunity has presented itself to us, offering an opportunity we have decided to pursue together,Defense News reported.

It has been a pleasure leading this great team over the past few years. We greatly appreciate your hard work, diligence, integrity, and devotion to technical excellence and technical truth in furtherance of the R&E mission, the two wrote, according to the outlet. We wish you all the very best.

Defense Secretary Mark EsperMark EsperTrump administration to extend troops at the border through 2021 Overnight Defense: Army to drop photos from soldier records to reduce racial bias | House defense bill backs B pandemic preparedness fund | Bill targets potential troop drawdowns House defense bill targets potential troop drawdowns in Africa, South Korea MORE on Wednesday confirmed the resignations and praisedGriffin and Porter's work.

"During their tenures, Dr. Griffin and Dr. Porter advanced critical work on the departments modernization priorities," Esper said in a statement. "They leave an office with a legacy of excellence in the research and development of technology that ensures American military advantage on land, at sea, in the air and in space. Mike and Lisa have my sincere thanks for their dedicated service to the department and the nation, and I wish them the very best as they enter this new chapter of their lives.

The two are the third and fourth officials to announce their resignation in the last week.

Kathryn Wheelbarger,the acting assistant Defense secretary for international security affairs,submitted her resignation on June 17,fivedays afterPresident TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump administration calls for Supreme Court to strike down ObamaCare Trump says there will be 'retribution' for those who deface monuments White House task force tracking coronavirus spikes even as Trump says virus is 'going away': report MOREpulled her name as the intended nominee to bedeputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence.

And Elaine McCusker, the Pentagon's acting comptroller who questioned the Trump administration for its withholding of aid to Ukraine last year,submitted her resignationa day earlier after the White House in early March pulled her nomination for the official comptroller role.

--This report was updated on June 24 at 4:07 p.m.

See more here:

Pentagon's top technology officials resign | TheHill - The Hill