The US President nominated Lisa Franchetti in the summer, but there was a blockage in the Senate. The chamber has now confirmed the new commander in chief of the Navy – the first woman to hold the position and on the US General Staff.
The US Senate has confirmed Lisa Franchetti as the first woman to lead the Navy. The Congress Chamber voted with a majority of 95 votes and one vote against for the 59-year-old as commander-in-chief. US President Joe Biden’s nominee for the post had held the top office on an interim basis since mid-August. She is now also the first woman to serve on the Joint General Staff of the US Armed Forces.
Since September 2022, Franchetti has been deputy chief of the Navy, as the navy is called in the USA. Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed praised her career path. She worked her way up in the Navy and proved herself. “She has taken on every challenge that has been thrown at her and excelled at it,” he said. “Admiral Franchetti has been a trailblazer at every stage of her career.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recommended Admiral Samuel Paparo for the post. However, President Biden ignored this. Paparo, meanwhile, is set to become commander of the Indo-Pacific Command. In addition to Franchetti, the new head of the US Air Force, General David Allvin, was also confirmed in office by the Senate. He succeeds Air Force General Charles Brown, who took over as head of the General Staff of the US Armed Forces at the end of September, succeeding Mark Milley.
Blocking more Replacements
Austin now welcomed the confirmation of Franchetti and Allvin. At the same time, he complained that the confirmation of “more than 370 excellently qualified managers” was still being blocked “unnecessarily”. “As we face a variety of pressing challenges, the most powerful army in history must be at full strength.”
In the Senate, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has been preventing the nomination of numerous top military officials for months. The conservative politician wants to ensure that the Ministry of Defense cancels support for military personnel who want to have an abortion. With his actions, Tuberville also alienated numerous party colleagues.
The parliamentary chamber usually confirms military officers by unanimous consent. However, individual senators can prevent this, which requires time-consuming individual votes.