The U.S. Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed Navy Vice Admiral Charles A. “Chas” Richard to be the next head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), which oversees the nation’s nuclear capabilities among other important defense and deterrence operations.

Richard is a native of Decatur and graduated with honors from the University of Alabama in 1982, according to his official military biography.

He was nominated to the position in October by President Donald Trump. Richard has most recently been serving as the Navy’s head of submarine forces and previously was deputy commander of STRATCOM.

The new STRATCOM commander succeeds another Alabama native in leading that post.

Air Force General John E. Hyten, a native of Huntsville, near the end of September was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the nation’s second-highest ranking military official.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn