After being sworn in as Army Secretary, Eric Fanning held a press conference in which he thanked his boyfriend Ben Masri-Cohen for standing by his side during a “confusing” confirmation process.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Fanning, roughly eight months after President Barack Obama nominated him to the post, and he was sworn in on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Fanning becomes the first openly gay leader of a U.S. military service.

“It has been a long process to get here,” Fanning said. “But it's worth it. This is a tremendous honor for me.”

“It's a confusing process that makes you feel vulnerable and out there alone, so I thank all of you for all that you have done these many months to help me get confirmed. And Ben, your patience at home, because I know there were days that I probably was not the most pleasant person to be around.”

Fanning was the acting under secretary of the Army before stepping down in January.