James Kennedy Jr. has been designated by the U.S. Department of Justice as acting U.S. attorney for Western New York to succeed William Hochul Jr., the Buffalo-based prosecutor’s office announced Monday.

Kennedy, 53, has been first assistant U.S. attorney since April 2010. The State University at Buffalo Law School graduate held a range of previous posts since joining the Western District office in 1992, including appellate chief, white-collar general crimes unit chief and criminal chief.