Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that the president has made the following nominations:

- Army Col. Herbert R. McMaster Jr., to brigadier general. He will be director of concepts development and experimentation, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe.

- Army Col. John R. O'Connor, to brigadier general. He is deputy commander/director of operations of Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Fort Eustis.

- Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, to the rank of general and assignment as commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe.

- Marine Corps Col. Christopher S. Owens, to brigadier general. Owens is currently the head of Concepts Department, Joint Operations, U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Navy messmen from 1930s-1970s sought

The Navy is looking for cooks and stewards, known as messmen, who served at the Naval Academy from the 1930s through 1970s. The academy will honor them with a memorial plaque and a celebration in September.

The messmen cooked and served all meals at the Naval Academy until 1975, according to a Navy release. They were predominantly African Americans and Filipinos, who for many years were restricted to service in the messmen ranks.

For information, contact Cmdr. John Fuller at (410) 293-7300 or fuller@usna.edu [1].

Coast Guard command change at finance center

Coast Guard Capt. Mark A. Rose has relieved Capt. Larry H. White as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Finance Center, Chesapeake.

Rose holds an MBA from George Washington University and a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, according to a news release.

White, who is retiring, was presented the Meritorious Service Award by Coast Guard Rear Adm. Keith A. Taylor.

Tactical Support Wing Oceana-related command change

Capt. John A. Hefti relieved Capt. Bryan P. Cutchen as commander of the Navy's Tactical Support Wing at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas.

The wing is composed of six tactical squadrons, including Fighter Squadron Composite 12 at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, and three Fleet Readiness Center sites in seven states, according to a news release.

EVENTS

Allen Stone Memorial Races Run-swim-run, 5K and children's 1-mile run to benefit Naval Special Warfare Foundation and Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad. 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Neptune Park at 31st Street, Virginia Beach. $10-45. www.allenstonememorial.com [2].

Job fair Military Sealift Command is recruiting for civilian mariner positions. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Springhill Suites hotel, 6350 Newtown Road, Norfolk. (877) 562-7672 or www.sealiftcommand.com [3].

Diabetes education To help diabetic children and their parents get ready for the school year. 8 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 4 p.m. July 31, Aug. 4 and Aug. 21, Building 3 of Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth.

Register at (757) 953-2987.

Military briefs run every Friday. Send submissions to military@pilotonline.com.