FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Maj. Gen. James McConville has become the newest commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, a storied unit that has fought in every major war since World War II.

McConville, of Quincy, Mass., took command during a ceremony Friday at the installation on the Kentucky-Tennessee line in front of about 15,000 soldiers, Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and retired Gen. Richard Cody. Almost 7,000 soldiers remain deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be back at the division and at Fort Campbell,” McConville said. He had served as a deputy commanding general during the division’s previous deployment to Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009.

The entire division deployed to Afghanistan last year. Thousands are expected to return through early next year.

“Today is about celebrating the achievements of the extraordinary men and women standing on the field before us,” McConville said. “It’s about thanking their families for their unwavering and steadfast support during multiple deployments.”

Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell handed over to McConville the division’s flag, which bears the famed Screaming Eagle patch.

Campbell, who led the division for two years, is going to the Pentagon to serve as a deputy for operations under Gen. Ray Odierno, who has been nominated to serve as the Chief of Staff of the Army.

Campbell thanked the soldiers for their accomplishments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“But as we all know, some of the Screaming Eagles do not return home and still more of our Screaming Eagles return scarred for life,” Campbell said. “We must continue to honor and remember our fallen and our wounded.”

The change of command is the culmination of the Week of the Eagles celebration that included games, a combatives tournament, memorials and parachute demonstrations.

Sgt. Anthony Creech, of Florence, Ky., and Spc. Scott Bohdan, of Minneapolis, Minn., both 25, were also honored during the ceremony as the division’s respective noncommissioned officer of the year and soldier of the year.

“It’s the most famous division in the entire world, so to be chosen as soldier of the year, it’s a great honor,” Bohdan said.