Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has selected a female admiral to lead the US Navy, marking the first time a woman has been nominated to head a Pentagon military service branch.
The nominee, Lisa Franchetti, brings an impressive background, having previously served as the head of the US 6th Fleet and US naval forces in South Korea. Additionally, she has held the position of an aircraft carrier strike commander.
Confirmation of her appointment as Chief of Naval Operations awaits approval from the US Senate. If confirmed, she will make history as the first woman to be part of the distinguished group of senior military officers comprising the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
With 38 years of service, Lisa Franchetti is only the second woman to attain the rank of four-star admiral, according to BBC reports.
President Biden praised her vast expertise in both operational and policy matters and expressed confidence that she will achieve historic milestones in her role.
However, it’s worth noting that the current US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, initially recommended Samuel Paparo, a TOPGUN graduate, for the position of Navy chief. Nonetheless, Biden promoted Adm Paparo and nominated him to lead the US military forces in the Pacific.
The US Coast Guard is currently led by another female admiral, Admiral Linda Fagan. However, it is important to mention that the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, not the Department of Defense.
Lisa Franchetti will assume her new role in the fall when the incumbent chief’s four-year term concludes. However, due to the divided Senate, her confirmation might take some time, and she will begin as acting Chief of Naval Operations.
The confirmation process for various military promotions has been hindered by Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is using it as a protest against a Pentagon policy that covers the travel expenses of service members who need to go out of state for an abortion.
President Biden criticized Senator Tuberville’s actions, emphasizing the negative impact on the United States Armed Forces’ capability to remain the world’s greatest fighting force, and accused him of endangering national security.
