Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President made the following nominations:

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. George J. Allen has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Allen is currently serving as the director, C4/ chief information officer of the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Raymond C. Fox has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Fox is currently serving as the commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Gurganus is currently serving as the commanding general, MAGTF Training Command; and the commanding general, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David R. Heinz has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Heinz is currently serving as the deputy executive director, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Steven A. Hummer has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Hummer is currently serving as the chief of staff, U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Fla.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David G. Reist has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Reist is currently serving as the assistant deputy commandant for installations and logistics (plans), Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John A. Toolan Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Toolan is currently serving as the deputy commander, U. S. Forces Japan, Iwakuni, Japan.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John E. Wissler has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Wissler is currently serving as the deputy commanding general, II MEF; commanding general, 2d MEB; and deputy commanding general for governance and economics, II MEF (Fwd), Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Marine Corps Reserve Col. Paul W. Brier has been nominated for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Brier is currently serving as a marine liaison officer to the Government of Guam.

Marine Corps Reserve Col. Frans J. Coetzee has been nominated for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Coetzee is currently serving as the deputy commander, 4th Marine Logistics Group, New Orleans, La.

Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis to serve as the commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, and for reappointment to the rank of general. Gen. Mattis is currently serving as the supreme allied commander for transformation; and commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.