Pendleton-based General Heads to Pentagon

The commanding general of Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force has been tapped to serve as senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser will likely leave the North County installation as early as this summer, according to U-T San Diego. He will replace Marine Lt. John F. Kelly, who was nominated in January to command the U.S. Southern Command.

Waldhauser has commanded Pendleton's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force since October 2010. The force consists of roughly 57,000 Marines.

A replacement was not immediately named.

— City News Service