WEST POINT, N.Y. (May 20, 2010) -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced Tuesday that President Barack Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon Jr. for reappointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as the 58th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

A 1973 West Point graduate, Huntoon was commissioned in the infantry and, after attending Infantry Officer Basic, served with the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Va. He later became commander of the regiment.

He served with the 9th Division at Fort Lewis, Wash., the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany and attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and later became deputy commandant there.

During Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm, he served with the XVIII Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, N.C.

He was the commandant of the United States Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., and is currently serving as director of the Army Staff, United States Army, Washington, D.C.

Huntoon earned a master's degree in international relations from Georgetown University.