Bethel leaves GSA

David Bethel, associate administrator of the General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications, has left the agency.

Bethel's departure comes close on the heels of the announced retirements of other GSA leaders, including Marty Wagner, deputy commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, and John Sindelar, special adviser to the administrator.

Bethel did not say why he left the agency, but said he plans to return to his pre-government work.

"I retired from federal service, not life," he said. "I plan to return to the real world and resume my career as a communications consultant." That will include developing communications and media strategies for clients, and corporate speechwriting, he said. 

However, first he plans to spend a week in Jamaica and a few more weeks in Florida, he said.