US Navy Gets its First Female Chief, Biden Selects Admiral Lisa Franchetti for the Post

US President Joe Biden nominated Admiral Lisa Franchetti as the first woman to lead the US Navy.

This is seen as a historic step to break the gender barrier in the US military. Lisa Franchetti is the first woman to command the service and to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This decision by Biden came as a surprise as Admiral Samuel Paparo was expected to get the coveted post.

Franchetti, who is currently the vice chief of operations for the US Navy, was also one of the contenders in the race. In a statement, Biden praised Franchetti’s 38 years of experience.

Last year, Biden picked Admiral Linda Fagan to lead the US Coast Guard, making her its first female commanding officer. But the coast guard is not formally part of the Department of Defense, and instead falls under the Department of Homeland Security.