President Biden has nominated Adm. Lisa Franchetti to head the Navy, making her the first woman to lead the service and become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The historic decision, announced on Friday, showcases Franchetti’s extensive expertise and 38 years of service as a commissioned officer. Currently serving as the vice chief of Naval Operations, she is also the second woman to rise to the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy.
Franchetti, a native of Rochester, N.Y., has held key positions throughout her career, including commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and chief of staff for strategy, plans, and policy with the J-5 Joint Staff. She received her commission in 1985 from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Northwestern University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Originally wanting to become a journalist in the Middle East, she credits a chance encounter with Navy officers-in-training for leading her to a military career.
Colleagues describe Franchetti as a “no-nonsense person” who is intelligent and calm. She holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix and has attended the Chiefs War College.
However, her confirmation as head of the Navy may face obstacles due to a logjam on military appointments. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has stalled the confirmation of more than 250 military officials over concerns about Defense Department abortion policy. President Biden denounced Tuberville’s tactics, stating that they are “not only wrong — it is dangerous.”
Franchetti’s nomination marks another potentially history-making choice by the Biden administration. If Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. is confirmed as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, it would be the first time the top two jobs at the Pentagon are held by Black men. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, another Biden nominee, was confirmed as the Pentagon chief in 2021.
Franchetti has previously spoken about the challenges faced by women in the Navy, who were only assigned to serve on combatant ships in 1994. Despite initial disappointments, she overcame obstacles with the help of a superior who assigned her to a billet, emphasizing the importance of faith, motivation, and persistence in achieving success.
President Biden’s nomination of Adm. Lisa Franchetti as the first woman to lead the Navy and become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reflects a significant milestone for gender equality in the military. It also highlights the administration’s commitment to diversity and breaking barriers within the armed forces.