US President Joe Biden has picked a female admiral to lead the US Navy, which would make her the first woman to hold the position if confirmed by the Senate. She will also become the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to be a Pentagon service chief.
Biden, in a statement said that “throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas… Franchetti will bring 38 years of dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer, including in her current role of Vice Chief of Naval Operations.”
Franchetti is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the US Navy, said Biden, adding that “when confirmed, she will again make history as the first woman to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”
Franchetti was commissioned in 1985 and formerly commanded the US 6th Fleet and US naval forces in South Korea. She has also served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff. She was also an aircraft carrier strike commander.
According to Homeland Security Today, Franchetti is a recipient of personal awards including the Defence Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defence Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards).
The US Coast Guard is also headed by a woman, Admiral Linda L. Fagan. But she is not a member of the Joint Staff as the Coast Guard comes under the Department of Homeland Security and not the Defence Department.
