Admiral Lisa Franchetti became the first female head of the Navy and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the US Senate accepted her nomination on Thursday.
The position has been filled by Franchetti, who was confirmed by a vote of 95-1, in an acting capacity since August since one Republican senator is against the Pentagon’s abortion access policy.
She has been a surface vessel commander on several occasions, leading two carrier strike groups, a destroyer squadron, and a guided missile destroyer.
Franchetti served as the deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development and the deputy commander of US naval forces in both Africa and Europe. In September 2022, she was appointed vice chief of naval operations, the second-highest position in the navy.
By a vote of 95-1, the Senate also confirmed General David Allvin’s nomination to lead the US Air Force, so occupying the void left by the service’s chief officer becoming the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Allvin, an experienced pilot with over 4,600 flight hours, including 100 in combat, was the Air Force’s vice chief of staff before.