She was the second woman ever to be promoted to four-star admiral, and she did multiple deployments, including as commander of a naval destroyer and two stints as aircraft carrier strike group commander. But news last month that the defense chief had recommended Papara stunned many in the Pentagon because it was long believed that Franchetti was in line for the top Navy job.Ī surface warfare officer, she has commanded at all levels, heading U.S. The official declined to comment on Austin’s recommendation.

The president, said the official, believes Franchetti is the right person for the job and moving Paparo to head Pacific Command also puts the right person in that post. She, however, is not a member of the Joint Staff. Fagan, is currently the commandant of the Coast Guard. Several woman have served as military service secretaries as political appointees, but never as their top uniformed officer. Michael Gilday, the current top Navy officer, retires as planned. She earned a bachelor’s in international relations and French language and literature from Boston University a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a doctorate in education from the University of San Diego.She is slated to serve as the acting chief beginning next month when Adm.

In 2008 she was the commander of a joint provincial reconstruction team in Farah province, Afghanistan, and from 2011 to 2013 she was the type wing commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing of U.S. She has flown the SH-3 Sea King, the CH-46D Sea Knight and the MH-60S Sea Hawk naval helicopters and deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf to support Carrier Strike Group and Amphibious Ready Group operations, according to her biography.Ĭhatfield has held several commands including the first commander of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25. Since 2017, she has served as the commander of Joint Region Marianas, based in Guam.Ī native of Garden Grove, California, Chatfield commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1988 and earned her wings to be a helicopter pilot in 1989, according to her official Navy biography. The Associated Press reported that he was being investigated amid allegations of mismanagement and inappropriate behavior at the college, including excessive spending and having a margarita machine in his office.Ĭhatfield will be the first female president in the institution’s 135-year history. Jeffrey Harley, was removed and reassigned.

The announcement comes less than a week after the previous president, Rear Adm.

Navy picks new war college president