Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti delivers remarks during a relinquishment of office ceremony at the United States Naval Academy, Aug. 14, 2023. US Navy Photo
The Navy will continue uninterrupted despite the lack of a confirmed chief of naval operations, Adm. Lisa Franchetti said in her first message to the fleet since taking over the duties of CNO.
“The work of our Navy continues undisrupted and unabated. We continue to operate our ships, submarines, and aircraft at the point of friction with our competitors, and at the point of friendship with our allies and partners,” Franchetti wrote in the guidance, issued as NAVADMIN this week.
The Navy will continue its culture renovation, under the “Get Real, Get Better” mantra started under former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.
“We are building teams that are self-assessing, self-correcting, and always learning toward one goal – delivering warfighting advantage. Similarly, we have commenced a once-in-a-generation transformation of our Navy in order to develop, design, and deploy the weapons and tools we need to compete and win, both now and in the future,” Franchetti wrote.
Franchetti is currently performing the duties of CNO while also continuing her position as vice chief of naval operations. Although she has been nominated by the White House for CNO, her confirmation, like 300 other military promotions, are on hold by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) who is preventing Senate military confirmations over the Pentagon’s travel and leave policy for non-covered reproductive care.
On Tuesday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters that the Pentagon will not change its policy, which includes covering travel for service members with non-covered reproductive care, like abortions, in other states if they are positioned in a state where abortion is prohibited.
Franchetti took over the duties of CNO on Aug. 10 when Gilday retired. With Gilday’s relinquishment of office, there are now three military branches with top leaders in acting positions while awaiting Senate confirmations.
