One needn’t be especially perceptive to see what’s going on at AOL; Miller’s gone, Leonsis is leaving, Tina Sharkey (my boss’s boss’s boss’s… boss) just left, and now, one of my mentors — and one of the people who gave me a shot at the big time — is moving on.

I’ve learned a lot from Jason, and I feel like there’s a lot more I could learn from the man. But that’s not so much what disappoints me. Nor is it the occasional (or frequent, depending on who you ask) erosion-of-will that comes with working from a massive company. What disappoints me is that AOL managed to snag a great thinker and let that man go. In J’s announcement today, it’s the startup life — the hunt — that he says he finds exciting; but according to him this is precisely what AOL did with Miller, too, let a great leader walk out the door.

A lot of people think a lot of things about him, but I’ll say this. Outspoken or withdrawn, the man is an indefatigable beacon for the most admirable tenets of journalism and business: honesty, loyalty, transparency, and unwavering respect and love for your employees. I can honestly and without a doubt say Jason is the most fantastic person I’ve ever worked with — and when I say with, that’s because a good boss doesn’t make you feel like you work for them.

I’m not uncertain about WIN or Engadget — it’s still in the best possible hands. Brian Alvey is a genius, Judith Meskill is a dynamo, and the leadership here is outstanding from top to bottom. I’m no less glad to be a part of this business. Just a little sad to see a leader and friend depart.