CAMP PENDLETON - Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer, deputy commanding general of Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force, has been nominated by Defense Secretary Robert Gates for a promotion and assignment as head of the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Japan.

Zilmer's current post with the I MEF includes serving as commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade based at Camp Pendleton, and has served as the on-ground general in charge of locally-based Marine Corps forces in Iraq.

The nomination, announced Monday, includes a promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.

A native of Reading, Pa., Zilmer was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve following his graduation from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 1974

In 1993, he was assigned to 1st Marine Division as commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and subsequently deployed to Okinawa, Japan.

He has served in a variety of tasks since then, including a stint as commander of the Marine Air Ground Task Force at Twentynine Palms from June 2004 to September 2005.

The appointment and promotion are subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.