washington top u.s. diplomat middle east tell colleagues decide retire three u.s. officials say tuesday late senior u.s. diplomat leave trump administration stuart jones act assistant secretary state near eastern affairs extensive experience middle east serve u.s. ambassador iraq jordan deputy chief mission cairo jones 57 tell colleagues decision push ask leave department decision ... fall say u.s. official speak condition identify story except another senior government official real competence leave state department spokesman confirm jones plan retirement say leave personal reason pursue new career jones case different two career foreign service officer former undersecretaries state patrick kennedy department top management official thomas countryman top arm control officer rise politically appoint job ask leave january decision accept resignations entirely within president donald trump right usually turnover politically appoint job constitute abrupt departure two former state department counselor kristie kenney also leave february shrink senior rank agency jones elevate act assistant secretary state responsible near east neither offer job permanent basis tell would get say u.s. official speak condition anonymity official say jones ask leave want make plan know would speculation force career diplomats deep regional experience typically choose run state department bureau near eastern affairs officials fit profile include robert steve beecroft u.s. ambassador egypt david hale u.s. ambassador pakistan douglas silliman u.s. ambassador iraq top u.s. diplomat middle east retire u.s. officials say