Amos: It's Official

Gen. James Amos has been approved by the Senate as the next commandant of the Marine Corps.

The vote last night came as no surprise, though Corps officials have been careful not to openly presume that the nomination would go through the Senate.

During his confirmation hearing on Sept. 21, when Amos began to answer a question, “If I become the 35th commandant,” Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) cut him off, saying, “You will, sir. There's no question about that.”

His nomination was included with 3,272 other nominations from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Amos will be the first aviator to take the helm of the service. He currently serves as current Commandant Gen. James Conway's assistant commandant.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford has been confirmed as the future assistant commandant.

Corps sources have told Inside the Navy that they expect Amos to take the helm of the service near the end of October. Conway has told the press he plans to spend his retirement fishing and hunting.