Rear Admiral John Kirby, who left his spokesperson job at the Defense Dept. in March, is expected to take the same job at State Dept. following Jen Psaki's move to become President Obama's communications director.

He'll make the move when his retirement becomes official.

Kirby left DOD shortly following Ash Carter's confirmation as Secretary of Defense on Feb. 17.

Carter reportedly was uneasy with a military man doing communications work for policies created by civilian leadership.

The DOD post is still vacant.

Kirby, who took heat at the DOD over Obama's military decisions, was commissioned in 1986.

He was the Navy's chef of information and a PA officer for Joint Chief of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen.