Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, whose decorations include the Silver and Bronze Star medals, has been named as the new commander today of the 7th Infantry Division at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Ferrell will replace Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who was named the 7th ID Division commander nearly 14 months ago. Lanza will succeed Lt. Gen. Robert Brown early next year as commander of Lewis-McChord's I Corps.

According to officials at JBLM, Feb. 4 is the tentative change of command date for Ferrell.

As commander, Ferrell will oversee the training, deployment and welfare of more than 20,000 soldiers in seven brigades at JBLM.

Prior to this assignment, Ferrell's most recent job was commander at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. Before that he was with the United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs.

Ferrell's overseas peacekeeping deployments include two rotations with a stabilization force in Bosnia. Then he had combat experience as the commander of the 3rd Squadron and the 7th Cavalry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While with the 3rd Infantry Division and Operation Enduring Freedom, he was commander of the combined joint task force Horn of Africa.

Ferrell was commissioned in 1984 while in the reserve officer training program at Marshall University. He has two masters, one in business administration from Central Michigan University and the other in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

Early his military career, Ferrell's assignments included tank platoon leader and company executive officer at Camp Casey in Korea. Later, he became company executive officer and Battalion S4 at Fort Hood, Texas. He then became the tank company commander and headquarters company commander in Baumholder, Germany.

Lanza assumed command of the 7th ID at JBLM Oct. 1, 2012.

Prior to that assignment, Lanza was the chief of public affairs and served as the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Staff and other senior Department of Defense leaders on communication matters concerning the Army.