CENTCOM CHIEF: President Bush will nominate his top Iraq commander, Army Gen. David Petraeus, to replace Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as chief of U.S. Central Command. Fallon resigned last month.

IRAQ COMMANDER: Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Petraeus would be succeeded by Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, who was the No. 2 commander in Iraq for 15 months.

NEXT PRESIDENCY: Both nominees are combat-tested commanders who have relentlessly defended Bush’s strategies. The next president would not be compelled to keep either, but normally the lineup of senior commanders is not changed with administrations.