The US Navy has a woman as chief of staff for the first time
Nov 03, 2023
Washington [US], November 3: AFP reported that Admiral Franchetti was approved as chief of staff of the US Navy with a vote of 95 - 1 in the Senate on November 2. She has assumed this role in an interim capacity since August, in the context of a Republican senator blocking the approval of nominations for positions in the US military in protest of Pentagon policy. Angle related to access to abortion services.
During her military career, Ms. Franchetti served on many warships, commanding a guided missile destroyer, a destroyer squadron and two aircraft carrier battle groups.
Ms. Franchetti also served as deputy commander of US naval forces in Europe and Africa. She became deputy chief of naval staff - the second highest-ranking officer in the US Navy - in September 2022.
The US Senate also approved the nomination for General David Allvin, making him the new leader of the US Air Force, with a vote of 95 - 1. This fills the void created when the first officer leader of the force became Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
US lawmakers often quickly approve a series of nominations for military positions as long as no one objects. But Senator Tommy Tuberville blocked that normal process for months, causing the US Senate to spend more time holding votes for each candidate.
Mr. Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, dragged out the ratification process to object to the Pentagon allowing military personnel to access reproductive health care services not available where they are stationed. including abortion, by providing military leave as well as supporting travel expenses.
The US Department of Defense issued this policy earlier this year after the US Supreme Court's 2022 ruling concluded that abortion is not a constitutional right.
The Pentagon said earlier this week that 378 nominees for general and senior officer positions have yet to be approved, but the deadlock could be broken thanks to a resolution by Democratic senator Jack Reed patronized.
The resolution would allow nominations for military positions to be considered en masse in the 118th Congress - which lasts until the end of next year - with the exception of officers selected to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff or who head of combat commands.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
