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President Biden has nominated Lisa Franchetti, former head of the US 6th Fleet, to serve as the leader of the US Navy, marking the first time a woman has been put forth to lead a Pentagon military service branch.

Lisa Franchetti's Storied Naval Career

Lisa Franchetti has a notable history with the US naval forces, having served in South Korea and as an aircraft carrier strike commander. This nomination comes as the latest in a line of significant accomplishments. As a 38-year veteran, Franchetti was the second woman ever to attain the rank of four-star admiral. If confirmed as Chief of Naval Operations, she will shatter another glass ceiling, becoming the first woman to join the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a prestigious group of senior military officers.

President Biden praised Franchetti's "extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas" in a statement, confidently asserting that she "will again make history" when confirmed for this role.

An Unexpected Choice Amid Political Tension

According to US media, Admiral Lisa Franchetti was not Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's initial recommendation for the position. The role was first offered to Samuel Paparo, a TOPGUN graduate. However, Biden made the unprecedented move to nominate Franchetti while also elevating Paparo, proposing him as the commander of US military forces in the Pacific.

Interestingly, the US Coast Guard already has a female leader, Admiral Linda Fagan, although this military branch falls under the Department of Homeland Security's purview, not the Department of Defense.

Senate Confirmation: Challenges Ahead

Franchetti is set to assume her new role in the fall, coinciding with the expiration of the current chief's four-year term. Nevertheless, she will likely start in an acting capacity due to the Senate's ongoing confirmation delays.

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville is currently holding up over 270 military promotions in the Senate, protesting a Pentagon policy that covers travel expenses for service members seeking out-of-state abortions. Biden vehemently criticized Tuberville in his statement, warning that this action is not just "wrong—it is dangerous," and could potentially undermine the efficacy of the US Armed Forces.