After nine productive years, Dr. Jeffery Pettis is stepping down as Research Leader of the USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory (BRL) in Beltsville, MD, and will devote his energy to his research program and collaborations with colleagues and beekeepers. Dr. Pettis guided the Laboratory through the turbulent times of Colony Collapse Disorder and helped build a balanced staff devoted to improving bee management and bee health. He did this while maintaining a strong research program focused on queen and colony traits and managing bees for pollination. Drs. Judy Chen and Jay Evans will serve consecutive 120-day terms as Acting Research Leader of the BRL, prior to the naming of a new Research Leader for the group. Through this process the BRL will remain focused on maintaining close collaborations and connections with the beekeeping community as we all strive to reduce the impacts of stress and disease on bees.