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SAN FRANCISCO — After less than two months on the job, the western regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday he was fired. 

After being placed on administrative leave until March 1, Richard Mallory said he received a letter from HUD Deputy Secretary Alphonso Jackson notifying him that his services were no longer needed. 

Mallory said there was no reason for him to be dismissed. 

Based out of San Francisco, Mallory was appointed by President Bush in January to oversee HUD operations in four western states, including California. 

The dismissal comes shortly after Mallory announced he would closely watch the HUD-controlled San Francisco Housing Authority, an organization that provides 25,000 low-income residents with affordable housing. Mallory said Monday he had raised questions about the organizations management and current HUD officials. The organization has been plagued with problems during the past few years. A former Housing Authority official was convicted of selling rent vouchers in 2000.