U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Nicholson Jr., commander of NATO Allied Land Command, has been nominated to succeed Gen. John Campbell as commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, DoD News reported Wednesday.
Lisa Ferdinando writes that Nicholson’s nomination and promotion to the rank of four-star general will go through the Senate confirmation process.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement that he believes Nicholson will work to “secure a bright future for the Afghan people, and help the government of Afghanistan strengthen a professional and capable security partner to the American people,” the report said.
Nicholson previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and served in international assignments with NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and NATO Implementation Force in Sarajevo.
Carter also commended Campbell for his work to lead Afghanistan-based U.S. forces against al-Qaida, Ferdinando reports.
“While many challenges remain, we have made gains over the past year that will put Afghanistan on a better path, and much of the credit for that progress rests with General Campbell,” the secretary’s statement read.