The Hill News

The House Sergeant at Arms, Bill Livingood, announced Thursday that he plans to retire in the new year after 17 years in office.

Livingood has had a more than a fifty-year career in federal law enforcement, including 33 years in the U.S. Secret Service. His last day as Sergeant at Arms will be Jan. 17, 2012, according to a statement Thursday.

During his tenure in the House, Livingood oversaw security during the 1998 shootings of two U.S. Capitol Police officers, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the deadly anthrax release on Capitol Hill and the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January of this year.

“Bill Livingood has served the House during the most challenging times faced by anyone who has ever held this demanding position,” wrote House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in the statement.

“Thanks to Bill’s vision and leadership, we now have enhanced security throughout the Capitol complex, ! a larger and more professional U.S. Capitol Police force, greatly improved planning and training for emergency response and disaster recovery, and a host of other advances that are visible to few but valuable to all,” Boehner added.

“Bill’s hard earned and well deserved retirement will be a real loss for the House, but we are grateful that he has assembled an outstanding team of professionals who share his dedication to round-the-clock protection of Members, staff and visitors here in the people’s House,” he concluded.

An announcement regarding Livingood’s successor is expected soon, the statement continued. A House vote to elect Boehner’s nominee to the position will take place on January 17th.