The Army chief of staff announced Wednesday that Brig. Gen. Donald M. MacWillie, who leads West Fort Hood's U.S. Army Operational Test Command, will next serve as deputy commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kan.

"I'm so very honored that the Army has the trust and confidence to allow me to lead such an historic unit as the 1st Infantry Division," MacWillie said in a Wednesday statement.

MacWillie is a Killeen native who has led the 1st Cavalry Division's 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment and the 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade. He took command of Operational Test Command on June 15, 2009.

MacWillie attended Rancier Middle School and is a 1978 graduate of Killeen High School. The command and the middle school are partners in Fort Hood's Adopt-A-Unit/School program. His wife, Sherri Gallagher MacWillie, is a Salado native.

The general's parents are retired Lt. Col. Donald Sr. and Judy MacWillie of Killeen. Sherri's parents are retired Chief Warrant Officer Jack and Joanne Gallagher of Salado.

MacWillie was promoted to brigadier general during a March 8, 2010, ceremony at West Fort Hood.

The MacWillies have a son and daughter.

Kyle graduated a year ago from Texas A&M, his father's alma mater, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. Kyle is the sixth generation in his family to serve in the military. Among the family's military service, Brig. Gen. MacWillie's great-grandfather fought in China with the British military, his grandfather during World War II and his father in the Vietnam War.

Melyssa-Anne is currently a student at Texas A&M.

"It will be with mixed feelings that I leave Central Texas, though," MacWillie said. "My wife, Sherri, and I grew up here; our kids grew up here; our parents have retired here. Our hearts are here, too.

"Our time at OTC has been filled with good times as well as some challenges, so we'll take with us many warm memories. We're not saying goodbye, just so long for now."

MacWillie's replacement at the command has not been announced. Neither has his departure date from Fort Hood.