The head of the U.S. Army Forces Command is likely to succeed General Walter Sharp as the new commander for U.S. forces in South Korea and the head of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday that he would recommend General James Thurman to succeed Sharp, who became the head of U.S. Forces Korea in June 2008. Sharp is set to retire at the end of his tour in South Korea.

Gates cited that Thurman “currently runs the Army's largest organization, with responsibility for oversight, manning, training and equipping of more than 700-thousand soldiers in the continental United States."

Thurman also has combat experience while in Iraq.

Thurman is likely to assume his new post following presidential approval and after the Senate holds a confirmation hearing.