Senate Republican Communications Center Staff Director Josh Holmes is taking over as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (Ky.) personal office chief of staff.

Holmes, one of McConnell’s most trusted lieutenants, will assume the role as McConnell’s top political apparatchik from longtime McConnell aide Billy Piper, who left his office last month.

Piper’s departure led to some speculation that McConnell, who will turn 72 in 2014 when he is next up for re-election, is considering retirement. 

Piper has been McConnell’s trusted political hand, but Holmes has considerable campaign chops as well. Prior to his time in the Senate, Holmes worked on a number of campaigns, including McConnell’s 2008 campaign, Sen.-elect Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) race this year and former Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) successful 2002 campaign.

A native of Minnesota, Holmes has worked in McConnell’s office since 2007, when he was brought in to run the SRCC. Under his leadership, the organization has become an integral part of the GOP’s successes over the past two years in the Senate.

From 2005 to 2006, Holmes worked as director of rapid response and deputy national press secretary for the Republican National Committee.