Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), whose term expires at the end of the year, announced Wednesday that he will take seats on the Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees in addition to his existing committee assignments.

Kaufman is filling the spots on both committees left open by former Sen. Paul Kirk (D-Mass.), who temporarily filled the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Kaufman, who was appointed last year to the seat previously held by Vice President Joseph Biden, currently serves on the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees.

“I’m very pleased about the opportunity to serve on two additional committees, both so vitally important to our national security and to the state of Delaware,” Kaufman said in a statement. “With Dover Air Force Base, a major shipping port in Wilmington and an Atlantic coastline — I’m familiar with many of the issues addressed by these committees. I look forward to serving under the leadership of Armed Services’ Chairman Levin and Homeland Security Chairman Lieberman. It will also be a pleasure to join my colleague from Delaware, Senator Tom Carper, on the Homeland Security Committee.”

Kaufman’s latest committee assignments were made official Tuesday. The former Congressional staffer and college professor has just eight months left in his current term. He is not running for a full term this year.