Adm. Phil Davidson, head of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command on the East Coast, has been picked to lead U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith at a time of significant challenge from North Korea and China.

The Pentagon announced the nomination Tuesday. Davidson’s appointment is subject to Senate Armed Services Committee review.

Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., trains, certifies and provides combat-ready Navy forces to combatant commands that have major geographic or functional responsibilities around the world.

Davidson’s official biography says the surface warfare officer “has deployed across the globe in frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.”

He previously served in policy, strategy and operations jobs with the U.S. Pacific Fleet staff and other commands, according to his biography.

The nomination means the Navy likely will keep its 71-year grip on Pacific Command since its creation in 1947.

Davidson is slated to replace the highly respected Adm. Harry Harris, who is retiring and expected to be the next ambassador to Australia.

Two other key military positions affecting the Pacific theater and involving top-ranking Hawaii-based commanders were also announced Tuesday by the Pentagon.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis said Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, who is based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, has been nominated for assignment as commander of U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

O’Shaughnessy is currently in charge of Pacific Air Forces.

Additionally, Mattis said Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Berger, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific at Camp Smith, was nominated to be deputy commandant for combat development and integration at Marine Corps headquarters.

Pacific Command is the oldest and largest of the United States’ nine geographic and functional commands, covers more than half the globe and includes seven of the world’s 10 largest armies.

About 375,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel are assigned to Pacific Command. Its subordinate Pacific Fleet, which is headquartered at Pearl Harbor, has 200 ships and nearly 1,100 aircraft.