President Joe Biden has selected four military officers to take on “key roles” to ensure the United States military and U.S. Navy “remain the most powerful and capable forces in the world.” Biden announced his intent to nominate the officers, who all have “extensive operational experience,” in a statement released by the White House July 21.
"I have seen firsthand how these highly qualified officers have contributed to our national security," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III said in a separate statement. “Together, these four highly decorated naval officers have extensive operational and command experience.”
The president intends to nominate Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be the chief of naval operations, Vice. Adm. James Kilby to be vice chief of naval operations, Adm. Samuel Paparo to be the commander for Indo-Pacific Command and Vice. Adm. Stephen Koehler to command the Pacific Fleet, according to the statement.
“I’m very proud that Admiral Franchetti has been nominated to be the first woman Chief of Naval Operations and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where she will continue to inspire all of us,” Austin added, according to his statement.
Franchetti currently serves as the vice chief of naval operations, according to the president’s statement. She is a surface warfare officer who previously served as the director for strategy, plans, and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as commander of the 6th Fleet.
Kilby currently serves as the deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the statement read. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he previously served as deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities in the chief of naval operations office.
Paparo currently serves as the commander of the Pacific Fleet. He is a naval aviator with more than 6,000 flying hours, according to Biden. He previously served as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces.
Koehler currently serves as the director for strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to holding that position, he served as the commander of the 3rd Fleet, director of fleet training at Fleet Forces Command and as deputy commander of the Pacific Fleet.
"If confirmed, these nominees will ensure that our U.S. Navy and the joint force in the Indo-Pacific remain the finest military force that the world has ever known," Austin said in his statement.
