Greg Schaffer is leaving as the Homeland Security Department's assistant secretary in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications. Schaffer's decision to leave is not unexpected. Government sources tell Federal News Radio he has been planning on returning to the private sector for sometime.

He has worked at DHS since June 2009. In his assistant secretary position, Schaffer worked closely with public and private sector organizations to help prevent and respond to cyber incidents affecting the nation's critical infrastructure.

He is the fifth DHS senior cyber executive to leave since the summer, and completes an almost entire turnover in the National Protection and Programs Directorate's cyber positions. Politico first reported Schaffer's last day at DHS is today.

This story is part of Federal News Radio's daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.