Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) was officially selected to serve as the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee in the 117th Congress.

Rogers beat out Reps. Michael R. Turner of Ohio and Rob Wittman of Virginia to fill the Armed Services post, CQ reports. He replaces departing ranking HASC member Rep. Mac Thornberry.

Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, commended the Alabama representative in the following statement:

“Having served on the Armed Services Committee for my entire tenure in Congress, I have long praised the Committee’s truly bipartisan nature. Our tradition of bipartisanship is the product of decades of sound, level-headed leadership. With the selection of Ranking Member Rogers, I am confident that tradition will live on in the 117th Congress. I look forward to continuing my working relationship with Ranking Member Rogers as we take on the Committee’s important work to provide for our men and women in uniform and ensure our national security.”

Photo by Staff Sgt. Katherine Dowd