SACRAMENTO – California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Tom Johnson has announced he will step down from his post next month.

Johnson's retirement becomes effective May 13.

“I want to thank Tom for all of his hard work to tackle the important issues facing California’s veterans and ensure the state of California honors those who have fought for our protection and security,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday. “Over the course of his career, he has served the people of this state tirelessly and has been a great asset to my administration. As Tom moves into retirement, my office will search for someone to fill this position and carry on his commitment and dedication to serving California’s veterans and their families.”

For information about the California Department of Veterans Affairs, visit www.cdva.ca.gov.