Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates today recommended that General George Casey, currently the top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, be named the Army's new chief of staff, the Defense Department announced.

Gates also recommended that President George W. Bush nominate Army Lieutenant General David Petraeus to replace Casey as commander in Iraq and Admiral William Fallon as the new head of U.S. Central Command, which includes Iraq and most of the rest of the Middle East.

Bush is likely to announce the nominations next week.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ken Fireman in Washington at kfireman1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 5, 2007 16:12 EST