U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Howell, head of the Special Operations Joint Task Force and the NATO Special Operations Component Command in Afghanistan, will be nominated as vice commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
The Defense Department said Wednesday President Donald Trump also endorsed Howell for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.
The 29-year Air Force veteran leads all U.S. and NATO special operations teams that operate in Afghanistan in his current role.
He served as a command pilot and recorded more than 2,600 flight hours with rotary-wing aircraft such as UH-1N, UH-1H, TH-53, CH-47, MH-6 and MH-53 J/M.
Howell held various positions within the Air Staff and the Air Force Special Operations Command, the 37th Air Rescue Squadron, 1st Cavalry Division, 20th Special Operations Squadron, 21st Special Operations Squadron and the 20th Special Operations Squadron.