President Barack Obama has nominated three U.S. Air Force flag officers from the Pacific for promotion, a Department of Defense news release said. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced these nominations Thursday:

• Brig. Gen. Thomas P. Harwood, 13th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, to major general.

• Brig. Gen. John T. Winters Jr., 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea, to major general.

• Col. Tommy J. Williams, 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea, to brigadier general.