STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. Africa Command’s deputy for civil-military activities will be departing the command in the coming weeks for a new assignment in Washington, AFRICOM officials have confirmed.

Since 2007, Mary Carlin Yates has served as AFRICOM’s top civilian, reporting directly to Gen. William "Kip" Ward.

Yates, a longtime diplomat with 20 years of experience in Africa, was brought in to help the new command coordinate its civil-military plans and programs with those of other U.S. government agencies operating on the continent.

Ward, AFRICOM commander, said Yates’ replacement is yet to be selected. However, several people are under consideration for the civilian post, he said.

AFRICOM’s civilian deputy post is a two-year assignment.

The U.S. State Department has not announced what Yates’ new position will be in Washington.

Yates was the first civilian official outside the Defense Department to be integrated into the command structure of a U.S. regional combatant command headquarters. This interagency structure was later followed by U.S. Southern Command, which also features a similar civilian deputy post.

During an interview with Stars and Stripes earlier this year, Yates described her role and that of the other interagency members assigned to AFRICOM.

"We are sensitizing the military and helping them more effectively design the missions and programs they are doing," Yates said.