Current 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams will be promoted and assigned to the Pentagon after he officially leaves Fort Stewart next week.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced Friday afternoon that President Barack Obama has nominated Abrams to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense.
Abrams recently returned from Afghanistan where he deployed for about 12 months to serve as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command-South. Like Abrams, much of the 3rd Infantry Division has operated in Afghanistan during his tenure as its commander.
The general took command of the 3rd ID in April 2011 immediately after he was promoted to major general.
Abrams will transfer command to incoming 3rd ID commander Maj. Gen. John "Mike" Murray during a ceremony Aug. 2 at Fort Stewart's Cottrell Field.