US President George W. Bush on Friday nominated Marine General Peter Pace, who has played a key role in shaping the US strategy on the war against terrorism, to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

     WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush on Friday nominated Marine General Peter Pace, who has played a key role in shaping the US strategy on the war against terrorism, to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    If approved by the Parliament, the 59-year-old Pace would succeed Air Force General Richard B. Myers, who is scheduled to retire on Sept. 30 after four years on the job.

    "He knows the job well," Bush said in a ceremony at the White House. If confirmed by the Senate, Bush noted, Pace would become the first US Marine general to be promoted to the top military post.

    Born in Brooklyn, New York, Pace graduated from the US Naval Academy before serving in the Vietnam War, where he led a rifle platoon. He was put in charge of the US Southern Command in September 2000, and was promoted a year later to serve as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    As vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pace has been involved in defining strategy for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is widely seen as closely aligned with Defense Secretary DonaldH. Rumsfeld. Enditem