Kappos to leave as USPTO Director

Within Patent chief to step down :

"He and his team have set the PTO on course to implement the key provisions of the Act, which will improve the patent system for decades to come," Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in a statement. "I was sad to hear of his decision to step down; the President and the Commerce Department have lost a valuable member of their economic team."

See earlier IPBiz post
IBM-Vermont, patent reform, and Senator Leahy.

Also

Kappos, IBM options, and the hearing for 29 July 09