FORT HOOD (June 28, 2012)--Lt. Gen. Donald M. Campbell, Jr., the commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood, has been named commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and the Seventh Army in Germany, the Defense Department announced Thursday.

The appointment requires congressional approval.

The Pentagon has not announced its choice of a replacement for Campbell, who assumed the command in April 2011.

"When the time comes to leave, Ann and I will be saddened to end our time here in Central Texas and command of III Corps and Fort Hood," Campbell said. "The Army has asked me to command in Europe, and if confirmed by Congress, I will go with open arms and continue to serve to the best of my ability."

Campbell was picked to command III Corps and Fort Hood in March 2011 after he turned over command of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox to Maj. Gen David L. Mann.

He assumed the Fort Knox command in May 2009 after serving as commanding general of the U.S. Army Center and Fort Knox.

Campbell was commissioned an armor officer in May 1978

Among his subsequent assignments was command of the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade in June 2001.

He later served as the division’s chief of staff until June 2004.

He joined U.S. Army Recruiting Command as deputy-commanding general-west from July 2004 to May 2005 and in June 2006 became chief of staff of V Corps.

In July 2007 he became deputy-commanding general of I Corps.

As commander of III Corps and Fort Hood, he succeeded Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone who was assigned as commander of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va.

Cone assumed command of Fort Hood in late September 2009 after serving as special assistant to the commanding general at the Training and Doctrine Command, succeeding Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, who in turn succeeded Lt.. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who is now Army chief of staff.