For the first time in U.S. military history, a woman was nominated to head an American combat command.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Friday that Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson was nominated to lead U.S. Northern Command. If approved by the Senate, Robinson will become in charge of the military division that protects the United States homeland, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

“General Robinson, it just so happens, would also be the first ever female combatant commander,” Carter told Politico Friday. “That shows yet another thing – which is that we have, coming along now, a lot of female officers who are exceptionally strong. And Lori certainly fits into that category,”

The U.S. military assigns a four-star general or admiral to direct all military operations in one of six geographic regions. No woman has ever held one of those positions.

So who is Lori Robinson, and what are her qualifications for this role?

According to a Defense News profile of the general in January, Robinson is a “rising star in the Air Force” who is both capable and driven.

Seen as a rising star in the Air Force, Robinson has shot through the ranks, adding a star a year from 2012 through 2014.

In June of 2012, just before current Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh took office, Robinson was a two-star serving as deputy commander, US Air Forces Central Command; less than a year later, she pinned on her third star in May of 2013 and became vice commander, Air Combat Command.

Then in October 2014, she pinned on her fourth star and took over as commander, Pacific Air Forces. With the PACAF assignment, Robinson became the first US female four-star to command combat forces.

“She’s highly capable, highly competent, and she will do a great job,” one of the sources said of Robinson.

If confirmed by the Senate, Robinson would replace Adm. Bill Gortney as the head of Northern Command.