Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is leaving the State Department “confident about the direction that we have set,” handing off the secretary of state’s job to former Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

“Next week, I would expect that all of you will be as focused and dedicated for Secretary Kerry as you have been for me, and that you will continue to serve President Obama and our nation with the same level of professionalism and commitment that I have seen firsthand,” she said in a farewell speech to department staff.

Kerry took the oath of office around 4 pm ET.

Good riddance!