Sen. Mark Kelly was appointed to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday, replacing the late Sen. Diane Feinstein.

Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot, said “I take seriously the responsibility of overseeing and supporting our intelligence operations, especially as we face complex threats to our own national security and the safety of some of our closest allies.”

“Our ability to outmaneuver adversaries like Russia, China, Iran, and their proxies depends on our intelligence community always being one step ahead,” the Democrat said in a news release.

“I’m looking forward to working with Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Rubio, and bringing my experience as a combat pilot and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to this important work,” he said.

“It’s not lost on me that I am filling a vacancy created by the passing of Sen. Feinstein, who chaired this committee for six years and left a legacy of strengthening our national security and upholding our country’s values,” he said.

The 17-member committee sets the budgets for and provides oversight of U.S. government intelligence programs, evaluates nominees to serve in intelligence positions, and is regularly briefed on intelligence reports and methods. Committee members are regularly informed of U.S. covert actions, and any intelligence failures.