Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo as the Navy’s next chief of naval operations (CNO), two unnamed administration officials said, tapping an operational leader focused on the Indo-Pacific and passing over Adm. Lisa Franchetti, widely regarded as the frontrunner for the job.
The Pentagon sent Austin’s nomination suggestion to the White House days ago, the officials said, but President Joe Biden has not made a final decision. Both officials were granted anonymity to discuss internal matters before an announcement.
NBC News was first to report the development. The White House declined to comment. “This is a presidential decision,” said Navy spokesperson Rear Adm. Ryan Perry. If nominated and confirmed, Paparo would replace CNO Adm. Mike Gilday, whose 4-year term ends in the fall.
Paparo currently commands the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, where he has focused on confronting China’s growing naval power, a perch that’s given him a front-row seat to Washington’s most pressing problem. (Politico 06/12/23) Austin recommends Pacific leader as next Navy chief, passing over female admiral - POLITICO
Background: A graduate of Villanova University, Paparo was commissioned in 1987 via the Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. Franchetti, a surface warfare officer, has served as the 42nd vice chief of naval operations since September 2022 and is a graduate of Northwestern University.
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