The Department of Defense announced Tuesday there will be a change of command at Fort Bliss.

Maj. Gen. Sean MacFarland will replace Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, who has held the position of commanding general since July 2010.

Pittard said he didn't get to select his replacement, but if the choice was his, MacFarland would be his No. 1 pick.

"I'm so glad they selected him to come back to El Paso," said Pittard.

The two leaders became friends when they were classmates at West Point in 1977, and their paths through the Army have overlapped in the past.

"He's the real deal," Pittard said of his longtime friend.

MacFarland is no stranger to El Paso -- he's served at Fort Bliss twice. MacFarland served as a cavalry officer in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, and when he was a brigadier general, he was the commanding general for Joint Task Force North.

MacFarland also married a native El Pasoan.

"He's got a great judgment because he married someone from El Paso. His wife, Linda, went to Parkland High School," said Pittard, also an El Paso native.

Richard Dayoub knows MacFarland and said he is looking forward to his return to the Sun City.

"We've had this incredible relationship that we now get to build on even further," said Dayoub, president and CEO of The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce.

Pittard credits MacFarland's pivotal work in Iraq during 2006 and 2007 during what has been called the "Sunni Awakening."

"It started with his brigade. It was his leadership that got that going and made such a decisive change in Iraq," said Pittard.

Pittard pioneered renewable energy at Fort Bliss with an overall net zero initiative. He said he's also proud that Fort Bliss is the best home training area in the Army.

"I am so proud that our units and soldiers that deploy from Fort Bliss are the best-led and best-trained in our Army -- very, very proud of that," said Pittard.

Additionally, Pittard improved the quality of life on the post.

For many the change is bittersweet.

"Dana and I have become very close friends. He's not just a great El Pasoan but he's a good friend and we are going to miss him," said Dayoub, but added, "We are excited to see Sean come back."

There is some speculation Pittard may be headed to the Pentagon. For now, the admired leader said, he doesn't have his orders but will have a big decision to make.

"Decide to stay or leave the Army. I can't see topping this assignment, doing anything else, doing some staff job at the Pentagon. Not that there is anything wrong that; a lot of people do that and do it well," said Pittard.

The change of command won't occur until May. Pittard said the goal is to make the transition so smooth it's "seamless."

MacFarland is currently deputy chief of staff for operations for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense also announced Brig. Gen. Stephen Twitty, a former commanding officer at Fort Bliss under Pittard, will be the new commanding officer at Fort Hood.