Topeka ? The superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol has announced his retirement.

Col. Terry Maple says he intends to retire from the patrol Jan. 1, and that his last day leading the patrol will be in December. His retirement was first reported by KFDI.

The 53-year-old Maple joined the patrol in 1979 and was named superintendent in 2008 by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. He has been the patrol’s assistant superintendent since 1999.

Maple says he looks forward to “future opportunities” but it’s unclear what he will be doing in the future.