President Joe Biden has made an extraordinary choice by selecting Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy. If confirmed, she will become the first woman to serve as a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Despite the recommendation of his Pentagon chief, Biden has chosen Franchetti for the role. With her extensive command and executive experience as the current vice chief of operations for the Navy, she was widely regarded as the top candidate for the position.
Biden acknowledged the historical significance of Franchetti’s selection, stating, “throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas.”
While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, for the role, Biden has instead nominated Paparo to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
According to a senior administration official, Biden chose Franchetti based on her wide-ranging experience at sea and ashore, including high-level policy and administrative positions that have given her deep knowledge in budgeting and departmental operations.
The official also acknowledged that Biden recognizes the historic nature of the nomination and believes that Franchetti will serve as an inspiration to all sailors, regardless of gender. The official spoke anonymously, as the nomination had not yet been made public.
Franchetti’s nomination, along with hundreds of other military moves, is currently being held up by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Tuberville is blocking the confirmation of military officers in protest of a Defense Department policy that covers travel expenses for service members seeking reproductive care out of state.
Biden criticized Tuberville’s actions, stating, “What Senator Tuberville is doing is not only wrong — it is dangerous. He is risking our ability to ensure that the United States Armed Forces remain the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And his Republican colleagues in the Senate know it.”
Franchetti will assume the role of acting Navy chief next month when Adm. Michael Gilday, the current top naval officer, retires. While several women have served as military service secretaries, Franchetti will be the first woman to hold the top uniformed officer position. Adm. Linda L. Fagan currently serves as the commandant of the Coast Guard, but is not a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The news of Paparo’s recommendation came as a surprise to many in the Pentagon, as Franchetti had long been seen as the frontrunner for the position.
Austin praised Franchetti’s nomination, stating, “I’m very proud that Admiral Franchetti has been nominated to be the first woman Chief of Naval Operations and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where she will continue to inspire all of us.”
Franchetti, a surface warfare officer, has commanded at all levels and has extensive deployment experience. She was the second woman ever to be promoted to the rank of four-star admiral.
Paparo, who will replace Adm. John Aquilino if confirmed, is a naval aviator and TOPGUN graduate with significant flight experience. Prior to his Pacific tour, he served as commander of naval forces in the Middle East and as director of operations at U.S. Central Command.
In addition to Franchetti’s nomination, Biden also announced his intention to nominate Vice Adm. James Kilby as the vice chief of the Navy and Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler to lead the Pacific Fleet.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
