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SEOUL — President Barack Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. John D. Johnson to become commanding general of the 8th U.S. Army in South Korea, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Johnson is deputy commanding general of I Corps at Fort Lewis in Washington, where he was assigned in June as an interim replacement. Johnson previously served as deputy commanding general for Operations, Multi-National Corps–Iraq.

If approved by Congress, Johnson would replace current 8th Army commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Fil, who has held the position since February 2008 and will become inspector general for the Office of the Secretary of the Army in Washington, D.C.

The 8th Army commander also serves as chief of staff for U.S. Forces Korea. Johnson’s nomination also includes appointment to the rank of lieutenant general.

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