CAMP PENDLETON -- A former Camp Pendleton 1st Marine Division officer has been nominated by President Barack Obama to head the base's I Marine Expeditionary Force and also serve as commander of Marine Corps forces throughout the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Friday that Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. to replace Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland later this year.

The change is among several coming to Camp Pendleton's top leadership this year.

Dunford is currently serving as the vice director for operations at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington.

In his new role, Dunford will be "dual-hatted," overseeing the 40,000 Marines and sailors that make up the I Marine Expeditionary Force and as commander of Marine Corps Forces, Central Command. The latter duty gives him the responsibility of overseeing leatherneck forces serving throughout the Middle East.

Helland has had those two roles since November 2007 when he replaced then-Lt. Gen. and now Gen. James Mattis. Like Mattis and Helland, Dunford's new duties also make him convening authority over prosecutions of Marines and sailors accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Camp Pendleton's Maj. Gen. John Kelly said Dunford brings a wealth of combat experience to his new post.

"He is well-versed in our ongoing initiatives and uniquely qualified to assume the lead of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force," Kelly said in a written statement to the North County Times.

Dunford is a native of Boston who joined the Marine Corps in 1977 after graduating from St. Michael's College.

From 1978-81, he served in the 1st Marine Division as a platoon and company commander in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and a company commander in 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

In 1981, he served as the aide to the commanding general for the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

He reported to the 2nd Marine Division in June 1985 and served as a company commander.

From 1988-91, Dunford was an instructor at the College of the Holy Cross.

In 1992, he was assigned to Marine Corps headquarters as a member of the commandant's staff and subsequently as senior aide to the commandant.

Following two other assignments, Dunford reported to Camp Pendleton in 2001 where he served as commanding officer of the 5th Marine Regiment and as the 1st Marine Division's chief of staff and assistant commander.

In 2005, he returned to Marine Corps headquarters as director of the Operations Division.

Helland has previously said he may retire when the change of command is completed late this summer or early fall. Helland also has said he is open to accepting a new appointment if asked.

Dunford's appointment, subject to routine confirmation by the U.S. Senate, is one of four new commanders coming to Camp Pendleton, home to more than 60,000 Marines and sailors.

The current base commander, Col. James Seaton III, is being replaced later this year by Col. Nicholas Marano. Seaton is going to work for U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus as a member of his personal staff.

Two other Camp Pendleton generals are expected to move on or retire later this year. They are Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert, head of Marine Corps Installations West, which oversees operations on all Marine bases in the western U.S., and Maj. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, who now heads the 1st Marine Division.

Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.