WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Gates recommended today that a 35-year veteran with a background in Air Force special operations, General Norton Schwartz, be the next Air Force chief.

In a sweeping shake up of the Air Force, Mr. Gates also formally sent former Air Force official Michael Donley’s name to the White House to be the next secretary of the beleaguered service.

Mr. Gates announced last Thursday that he was removing Air Force General Michael Moseley, from the chief’s job and Michael Wynne as its top civilian. Mr. Gates held them accountable for failing to fully correct an erosion of nuclear-related performance standards.

In an effort to get at least part of the new team in place right away, Mr. Gates also asked Mr. Bush to designate Mr. Donley as the acting secretary effective June 21 — a move that would allow him to begin work without waiting for Senate confirmation. Mr. Wynne’s resignation is effective that day.

General Schwartz had been thought to be in line for retirement, and his replacement as head of Transportation Command, Lieutenant General William Fraser III, had been announced in April. But today, Mr. Gates recommended that General Fraser be nominated as the next vice chief of the Air Force.

And he said that the current vice chief, General Duncan McNabb, should move to the Transportation Command job.

Later today, Mr. Gates is planning to visit Langley Air Force Base, Va., to address airmen and underscore the depth of his concern about weaknesses in service’s leadership.

He is expected to stress the importance of leadership accountability and emphasize that despite his well-publicized tensions with the Air Force, he strongly supports the service and appreciates its many wartime contributions.