Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was named on Monday, June 18 as the kingdom’s new heir apparent following the death of Crown Prince Prince Nayef on Saturday, according to Al Arabiya.

Prince Salman, 76, was appointed defense minister after the passing of Prince Sultan, the then crown prince and long-serving defense and aviation minister. It was the first ministerial post for Prince Salman who has been the governor of Riyadh since 1962.

Saudi King Abdullah appointed on Monday his half-brother Prince Salman “crown prince and deputy prime minister” while retaining him as defense minister.

Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz was appointed as interior minister, a position held by Crown Prince Nayef for over 30 years, state television Al-Ekhbariyah reported.