Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer plans to retire as early as 2017, a Microsoft representative confirmed Friday.

At a Technology for Government dinner sponsored by the American Electronics Association this week, Ballmer said he plans to leave Microsoft as soon as his youngest child leaves for college, or in about nine to ten years.

"I've been at Microsoft, as I said, 28 years," Ballmer said, according to a transcript of the speech provided by Microsoft. "I tell people I'm planning on being here another -- here at Microsoft another nine, ten years, till my last kid goes away to college. I've got to tell you, for all of us who are involved in this industry, there's never been a better time. The next ten years will bring even more innovation and excitement and energy than the last ten."

Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates celebrated his last speech to developers on June 3, where he . Gates said he plans to step down in July, although he will reportedly spend a small percentage of his time working on Microsoft-related issues. At the recent "D" conference, Gates and Ballmer both some features of the upcoming Windows 7, including the .