President Bush has nominated Maj. Gen. John F. Goodman to be promoted to lieutenant general and commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced yesterday.

The promotion would also make Goodman the commanding general of Fleet Marine Forces Pacific and the commander of Marine Corps Bases Pacific.

If confirmed by the Senate, he will replace Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, who has held the commander position for the last two years.

Goodman has served as deputy commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, based at Camp H.M. Smith. His previous assignments were with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea.

A graduate of Arizona State University, Goodman began his military service in 1967 and served during the Vietnam War.

He transferred to the inactive Army Reserve in 1969 and played professional football for the New Orleans Saints before entering the Marine Corps in 1971.

The Marine Corps was expected to announce Gregson's plans today. Gregson is a Vietnam veteran and former commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Japan.