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Facebook's secret hardware lab is losing its chief visionary

Regina Dugan announces that she will be stepping down from her role at Facebook early next year.

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Patrick Holland
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Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
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Regina Dugan will be stepping down from her role at Facebook to pursue a new endeavor.

 James Martin/CNET

After 18 months leading Facebook 's research and development arm Building 8, Regina Dugan announced that she'll be stepping down early next year.

In a post on her Facebook page, Dugan wrote, "Today I am announcing that early next year, I will be leaving Facebook to focus on building and leading a new endeavor."

Dugan has a history of leading secretive technology focused initiatives. She was the head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that develops emerging technology for military applications. Just before joining Facebook, Dugan led Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team that worked on the Project Ara modular phone.

In Dugan's post, she quoted President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address.

Today I am announcing that early next year, I will be leaving Facebook to focus on building and leading a new endeavor....

Posted by Regina Dugan on Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.