Gen. James C. McConville has been confirmed to become the 40th Army chief of staff, a change in Army leadership that is expected to take effect this summer.

Currently the Army vice chief, McConville played a key role in the creation of the Army Futures Command and establishing a list of modernization priorities.

The 60-year-old Quincy, Massachusetts, native will succeed Gen. Mark A. Milley, who is nearing the end of his second term as chief of staff. 

Milley has been nominated to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs. A Senate hearing on the nomination has not yet been held.

In a statement after McConville’s May 23 confirmation by the Senate, Army Secretary Mark T. Esper said, “General McConville is an extremely accomplished Army officer, and I'm supremely confident in his abilities as the next chief of staff.”

McConville has three children serving in the Army.

Asked by the Senate Armed Services Committee to describe the greatest challenges facing the Army, he said, “Great-power competition with Russia and China, unpredictable state actors such as North Korea and Iran, radical violent extremist organizations, rapidly evolving technological advances that could potentially revolutionize the conduct of armed conflict, and increasing global disorder will continue to present significant challenges for the U.S. and its allies and partners over the next four years.”

To face this, “the Army must continue to modernize and increase its readiness,” McConville said. “To succeed in these efforts, we must receive timely, affordable, predictable, and sustainable funding.”