Thirty-eight years later, after flying jets in Vietnam, commanding a carrier air wing in the 1991 Gulf War, leading a battle group supporting NATO operations in Bosnia and serving in the Pentagon, Fallon, 60, has been tapped to lead the U.S. military's largest geographic command.

A Navy official confirmed yesterday that Fallon, now heading the U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., will be President Bush's nominee.

Ken Lisaius, a White House spokesman, refused to confirm or deny the choice of Fallon. He also declined to say when a formal announcement could be coming.

Fallon, 60, would replace Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, who has headed the Pacific Command since May 2002 and is expected to retire early this year. A change of command is scheduled for Feb. 26.

The Advertiser reported yesterday that Fallon is the leading candidate for the command, which encompasses half the globe, 43 nations, and hot spots including the Taiwan Strait and Korean peninsula. The New York Times, citing unnamed Pentagon and administration officials, also said Fallon is the president's pick.

In 2001, during Fallon's tenure as vice chief of naval operations, the Pearl Harbor-based submarine USS Greeneville slammed into the Japanese fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru nine miles off Diamond Head, killing nine men and boys on the ship.

Fallon went to Japan several weeks after the accident as a special envoy of the United States and delivered an apology to the nation and specifically to the victim's families on behalf of Bush.

Mike Yuen, spokesman for Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said yesterday that the senior senator would not comment until a nomination was announced. Sen. Daniel Akaka also refused to comment.

Before heading to Fort Polk, La., to check on Hawai'i National Guard soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq, Rep Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, said Fallon has an impressive military and diplomatic background.

Fargo and Adm. Dennis Blair before him bridged what had been a gap between the military and civilian communities in Hawai'i, Case added, saying he would want the same qualities in the next Pacific commander.

"I would be looking for: Is this a person who can reach out beyond the military community and interact with a lot of different people in Hawai'i?" Case said.

Jim Tollefson, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i, said Fargo has been "a strong supporter of the business community and involved player."

Fargo and his wife, Sarah, will remain in Hawai'i. He is expected to join the board of directors of Hawaiian Electric Industries and its utility, Hawaiian Electric Co.

"I think it's very important to have strong ties because the military plays an extremely important role in the Pacific," Tollefson said. "Obviously, there's so much trade in the Pacific that helps drive the economy. There's a security aspect to it."

In October, Air Force Gen. Gregory "Speedy" Martin, head of Air Force Materiel Command, withdrew his name after a nomination hearing where Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., raised concerns about Martin's role in an acquisitions scandal dealing with Boeing planes.

Adm. Walter Doran, who has led the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor since 2002 and was a classmate of Fallon's at Villanova, was mentioned as being in the running for the Pacific Command job. The Pentagon also considered recommending Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley, vice chief of staff of the Air Force, to President Bush for the post.