Franchetti Tapped for VCNO; 3rd Fleet Koehler to Joint Staff, Cheeseman to CNP

April 26, 2022 6:05 PM - Updated: April 26, 2022 6:57 PM
Vice Adm. Lisa Franchetti. US Navy Photo

A career surface warfare officer has been tapped to serve as the second highest-ranking officer in the Navy and the second female four-star in the service’s history, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.

Vice Adm. Lisa Franchetti, if confirmed by the Senate, will succeed current Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Lescher, who is expected to retire following his current tour.

Franchetti, currently the head of the J5 Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff, is expected to eventually succeed current CNO Adm. Mike Gilday as the service’s top officer when Gilday retires in 2023, several defense officials have told USNI News over the last several months.

Prior to her current role, Franchetti was briefly the head of the Navy’s warfighting development office on the chief of naval operations staff, led U.S. 6th Fleet in Europe and Africa, commanded U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Carrier Strike Groups 9 and 15, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 and guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71).

She is a native of Rochester, N.Y., and was commissioned in1985 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Northwestern University, where she earned a journalism degree.

Current U.S. 3rd Fleet commander Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler was nominated to succeed Franchetti as the J5 after leading the West Coast fleet for less than a year.

Koehler is a career fighter pilot whose commands at sea include the “Pukin’ Dogs” of (VFA) 143, USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and Carrier Strike Group 9. He commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 1986 after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder. It’s unclear who will take charge of 3rd Fleet once Koehler heads to the Pentagon.

Current chief of legislative affairs Rear Adm. Sara Joyner has been tapped for a third star and to be the head of the J8 Force Structure, Resources and Assessment office on the Joint Staff. The current J8, Vice Adm. Ron Boxall, has been in the role since 2019.

Joyner has been in her role since 2020 and is a career fighter pilot who oversaw the Navy’s physiological episode mitigation efforts. She has commanded Carrier Strike Group 2, Carrier Air Wing 3 and the ‘Gunslingers’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105. She’s a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Current Carrier Strike Group 10 commander Rear Adm. Richard Cheeseman has been nominated to be the next chief of naval personnel following Vice Adm. John Nowell.

Cheeseman is a 1989 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a career surface warfare officer. His previous commands include guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) and guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61). As a flag officer, he also commanded Carrier Strike Group 2.

Rear Adm. Craig Clapperton, currently serving as the commander of the Combined Joint Task Force, Cyber, U.S. 10th Fleet, has been nominated to lead 10th Fleet and succeed current commander Vice Adm. Ross Myers.

Clapperton is a 1989 Pennsylvania State University graduate and a career naval flight officer He’s commanded the “Shadowhawks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and Carrier Strike Group 12.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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