U.S. President Trump Fires Navy’s First Woman Leader, Adm Lisa Franchetti

President Donald Trump has removed Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman Chief of Naval Operations, from her post.

The announcement was made on Friday night by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, shortly after Trump fired General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Franchetti, who took over as Chief of Naval Operations in November 2023, was known for her extensive operational experience.

She had commanded a guided missile destroyer, a destroyer squadron, and two aircraft carrier strike groups, and held key leadership roles in Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Before becoming the Navy’s top officer, she served as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Hegseth provided no specific reason for Franchetti’s removal but stated that he was looking for a replacement for her and General James Slife, the Air Force’s Vice Chief of Staff. He also mentioned plans to replace the top uniformed lawyers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Franchetti was the first woman to hold a permanent seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and had received bipartisan support for her nomination under President Joe Biden.

Her firing follows the removal of another female four-star officer, Admiral Linda L. Fagan, just a day after Trump’s second inauguration. Fagan had been the first woman to lead a branch of the armed forces as Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Franchetti joined the Navy in 1985, just seven years after the service ended its prohibition on women serving aboard ships. She got promoted through the ranks, becoming a surface warfare officer at a time when women were still restricted from serving on combat ships.

The ban was lifted in 1993, enabling her to compete equally with her male counterparts. She spent nearly half of her 40-year career at sea, proving her capability in leadership positions and combat readiness.

While Trump did not give specific reasons for firing Franchetti, Hegseth has been vocal about removing top officers associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. He had previously criticised military leaders involved in what he called “woke policies.”

Trump, in his military reshuffling, has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine to replace Brown. Caine, a decorated F-16 pilot with extensive combat experience, has also served as associate director for military affairs at the CIA.

References: NYTimes, Khaleej Times

Source: Maritime Shipping News