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

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Richard T. Tryon has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Tryon is currently serving as the commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Quantico.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Frank A. Panter Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Panter is currently serving as the assistant deputy commandant for installations & logistics (plans), Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John F. Kelly has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Kelly is currently serving as the legislative assistant to the commandant of the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Terry G. Robling has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Robling is currently serving as the director, Strategy and Plans Division, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Robeson is currently serving as the commanding general, 3^rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Conant has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Conant is currently serving as the director, Capabilities Development Directorate; and director for Joint and External Matters, Quantico.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert E. Schmidle Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Schmidle is currently serving as the deputy director for resources and acquisition, J-8, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Waldhauser is currently serving as the chief of staff, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John R. Allen has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Allen is currently serving as the deputy commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force; and commanding general, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C.