Admiral Lisa Franchetti, President Biden’s pick, will become the first female Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if confirmed in her new role.
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, President Biden’s pick, will become the Pentagon’s first female service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
US President Joe Biden has chosen Admiral Lisa Franchetti to command the Navy.
If confirmed, the unprecedented selection would make her the first female Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
President Biden’s decision is contrary to his Pentagon chief’s recommendation, but Franchetti, the current vice chief of naval operations, has extensive command and control experience. He was considered the first choice for the job.
In a statement Friday, Biden described the historic significance of his selection, saying, “Throughout his career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas.”
Several U.S. officials said last month that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended Biden to select Admiral Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, but Biden is nominating Paparo to lead the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
A senior Biden administration official said on condition of anonymity that Biden chose Franchetti based on his extensive experience at sea and ashore, including high-level policy and management responsibilities, and his extensive knowledge of budgeting and running an organization.
The official also acknowledged that Biden understands the historic nature of the nomination and believes Franchetti will be an inspiration to both male and female sailors.
In a statement Friday, Austin hailed the nomination, saying, “I am very proud to name Admiral Franchetti as the first female Chief of Naval Operations and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where she will continue to inspire us all.”
Naval warfare officer commanded at all levels, commanding the US Sixth Fleet and US Naval Forces Korea. She is the second woman to be promoted to the rank of four-star admiral.
He served in a variety of roles, including two stints as Navy destroyer commander and aircraft carrier strike group commander.
