WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the next director of the CIA, by a 94-0 vote.

Petraeus, currently the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, is expected to retire from the Army in July, ending a heralded 37-year military career. At the CIA, he will succeed Leon Panetta, who will become defense secretary on Friday.

White House officials had pushed for a swift confirmation for Petraeus and his replacement, Marine Lt. Gen. John Allen, to give the outgoing commander a short break between jobs. Allen’s confirmation is still pending before the Senate.

Petraeus, 58, took over as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan a year ago, and before that he headed U.S. Central Command for nearly two years. He is widely credited with helping to turn the tide in the Iraq war during the 2007 surge of troops into that country.