Admiral Lisa Franchetti was nominated by President Joe Biden on July 21 to lead the Navy, breaking an age-old barrier by making her the first female to command the service and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Biden made a surprising choice. Pentagon officials widely expected Admiral Samuel Paparo to receive the nomination, who commands the Navy in the Pacific and has expertise in dealing with the escalating Chinese tension.
Even so, Franchetti, who is the Vice-Chief of Operations for the Navy, was one of the candidates said to be competing for the position. She is widely respected and has broad experience, including serving as commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Korea, officials said.
In a statement, Biden, said, “Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas,” noting that she was the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Biden mentioned Franchetti's 38 years of experience in a statement.
Admiral Linda Fagan became the U.S. Coast Guard's first female commanding officer when Biden chose her to lead the organization last year. However, the coast guard officially belongs to the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defence.
The first female to lead a military service inside the Defence Department, Franchetti would also join the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a group of eight senior uniformed military leaders who advise the President on matters of national security.
(Photos: US Department of Defence/ DW)
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