Retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North will become the next president of the National Rifle Association, the organization announced Monday.

North will take over from Pete Brownell, who announced Monday he would not seek a second term, citing his family business, according to the NRA announcement.

"This is the most exciting news for our members since Charlton Heston became President of our Association," NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre said. "Oliver North is a legendary warrior for American freedom, a gifted communicator and skilled leader. In these times, I can think of no one better suited to serve as our president."

North is a best-selling author and a popular speaker before the powerful gun lobby and brings star power at a time when gun-control advocates seek to seize on momentum against the NRA in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history and one of the deadliest school shootings.

North also earned a silver star and purple heart award during the Vietnam War.

"I'm honored to have been selected by the NRA board to soon serve as this great organization's president," North said. "I appreciate the board initiating a process that affords me a few weeks to set my affairs in order, and I am eager to hit the ground running as the new NRA president."

North has been a regular contributor and conservative analyst on Fox News, a role he said he would relinquish immediately.

North, then a member of the National Security Council, was at the center of the Iran-Contra scandal during Ronald Reagan's presidency in the mid-1980s.

North subsequently was indicted on 16 felony counts in 1989 for helping to facilitate the shady weapon deals and lying about it to investigators. He was convicted and sentenced to a three-year suspended prison term. However, a judge eventually threw out the conviction in 1991.

North said he was buoyed by a one specific Bible verse that sustained him during the hearings.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings of eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not feel faint."

North made a stout Senate run in 1994, narrowly losing to Charles Robb by 3 points.

North is now 74.