The Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to install Leon Panetta as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and sent the nomination to the full Senate for consideration.

Senators could confirm Panetta as CIA director as early as Wednesday. The former Democratic Congressman from California initially faced criticism for lacking intelligence experience, but those concerns quickly waned.

“He has pledged to surround himself with career professionals, to keep Congress fully and currently informed, and to give the president unvarnished, independent advice,” Intelligence Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said. “I am confident that the president and the nation will be well-served by Mr. Panetta as our next CIA director.”