The CIA announced Tuesday that Director Gina Haspel is leaving the agency, ending a three-decade spy career that shattered a glass ceiling.

The announcement was made via a Twitter post by the Central Intelligence Agency, which thanked Haspel for her "36 years of dedicated service to the American people."

Haspel said in the post: "It has been the greatest honor in my life to lead this organization."

Haspel is a respected career officer and the first female director of the nation's premier spy agency. A U.S. official said Haspel wanted to announce her retirement a day early so she could thank her colleagues formally, but would be staying on the job through noon ET Wednesday when Joe Biden is inaugurated president.