Major Nominations

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has nominated successors to fill leadership posts being vacated at U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Northern Command and NATO's International Security Assistance Force-U.S. Forces Afghanistan, according to a Pentagon announcement.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Votel, the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, has been nominated to succeed Adm. William McRaven at SOCOM; Army Gen. John Campbell, the service's vice chief of staff, got the nod to lead all U.S. forces in Afghanistan now that Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford has been tapped to become commandant; and Adm. Bill Gortney, chief of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, has been nominated to succeed Army Gen. Charles Jacoby at NORTHCOM.

“All three are highly qualified officers who have devoted many years of service to their country,” Hagel said in a statement. “If confirmed by Congress, they will be outstanding successors to Gen. Jacoby, Gen. Dunford, and Adm. McRaven, who have all been exemplary and highly effective commanders. I join the president in thanking all these leaders for what they have done and will continue to do for both our nation and our men and women in uniform.”