Lt. Gen. John Allen, the president’s pick to lead U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has been nominated for promotion to the rank of general, the Pentagon announced Thursday morning.

Pending Senate confirmation, Allen will pin on a fourth star and take over as commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, making him the first Marine to hold the top job downrange since the start of combat there nearly 10 years ago. He will replace Army Gen. David Petraeus, who President Obama has nominated to lead the CIA once he retires later this year.