Lt. Gen. Raymond “Tony” Thomas has been officially appointed to lead Special Operations Command, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter announced Monday.

“General Thomas has big boots to fill, but he has proven himself — as a soldier, special operator and leader, time and time again over the course of his illustrative career,” Carter said during a news briefing alongside Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thomas’s new command is all but guaranteed pending confirmation by Congress.

Army Gen. Joseph Votel, current commander of Special Operations Command, if confirmed, will replace Army Gen. Lloyd Austin at Central Command.