House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Friday that she is appointing Major General William J. Walker, the current head of the D.C. National Guard, to serve as the 38th House sergeant-at-arms. Walker will be the first Black man to hold the post and the top security official of the chamber.

“Throughout his long, dedicated career in public service, General William Walker has proven to be a leader of great integrity and experience who will bring his steady and patriotic leadership to this vital role,” Pelosi wrote in a press release.

Walker was instrumental in neutralizing attacks against lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

In testimony before the Senate this month, Walker told members of Congress that senior defense officials under the command of then-president Donald Trump kept his troops sidelined for upwards of three hours while insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. Nevertheless, Walker eventually moved approximately 155 troops closer to the Capitol and ultimately helped push crowds of rioters and Trump supporters away from the building.

“We already had guardsmen on buses ready to move to the Capitol,” Walker said during testimony in front of the Senate earlier this month. “We helped to reestablish the security perimeter at the east side of the Capitol to facilitate the resumption of the joint session of Congress.”

Pelosi wrote that Walker’s experience in dealing with the attacks is an essential part of helping strengthen government institutions and defenses against future incidents.

“His experience will be an important asset to the House, particularly in light of the January 6 insurrection,” Pelosi wrote in the press release.

As the 23rd Commanding General of the District’s National Guard, Walker was responsible for strategic leadership, training, readiness, operational employment, and performance of the city’s Army and Air Force components. Walker commanded thousands of District National Guard troops with the authority to deploy them in tactical operations, battles, and engagements. He also served as a high-level official at the Pentagon and Major Commands — the highest level command within the U.S. Army.

Walker oversaw the 113th Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon, which secures D.C’s relatively flat skyline, as well as the C-40 Clipper that transports members of Congress and other dignitaries.

Walker was promoted to Commanding General in March 2018 after serving as Acting Commanding General of D.C.’s National Guard. He simultaneously served as a National Guardsmen and special agent at the Drug Enforcement Administration for 30 years. In 2003, he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service rank and later as a Senior Intelligence Officer in 2009. Walker’s final post at the DEA was Deputy Assistant Administrator for Strategic Warning.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, he pursued a Master of Science at Chicago State University, a Master of Science from the National Intelligence University, and a Master of Arts from American University. He’s also completed numerous leadership programs at schools like Harvard, George Washington, and Syracuse Universities.

Alongside his work with the DEA, Walker was Vice Chairman on the board of directors of the Young Marines, a national youth program that encourages its 10,000 members to stay away from drugs. He’s a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities and remains an active participant of several community organizations.

Spokespeople for the District of Columbia National Guard did not immediately respond to DCist’s request for comment.

This story has been updated to better reflect the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s intended mission.