JULY 21, 2023 – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following four individuals for key roles within the U.S. military. Each are highly decorated naval officers with extensive operational experience. They will help ensure that the U.S. Military, and in particular the U.S. Navy, remain the most powerful and capable forces in the world at this critical moment.
Nominee for Chief of Naval Operations: Adm. Lisa Franchetti
Adm. Lisa Franchetti currently serves as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She is a surface warfare officer with extensive operational and policy experience. She previously served as the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.
She has also served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, and commander of Carrier Strike Group 15. She received her commission in 1985 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Northwestern University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She also attended the Naval War College and holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
If confirmed, Admiral Franchetti will be the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had recommended Admiral Samuel Paparo for this position. Paparo is TOPGUN graduate with more than 6,000 hours in F-14s, F-15s and F/A-18s, 1,100 carrier landings and experience commanding forces in war zones.
Nominee for Vice Chief of Naval Operations: Vice Adm. James Kilby
Vice Adm. James Kilby currently serves as the Deputy Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, which trains, equips, certifies, and provides combat-ready Navy forces to Combatant Commands around the world. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, N-9, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
His first flag assignment was standing up Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center and he also served as commander of the Carl Vinson Strike Group. He is a 1986 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Nominee for Commander of Indo-Pacific Command: Adm. Samuel Paparo
Adm. Samuel Paparo has extensive experience serving in the Indo-Pacific region, and currently serves as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the world’s largest fleet command in a priority region for the United States. He is a U.S naval aviator and has flown more than 6,000 hours, with 1,100 carrier landings.
He previously served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces. He graduated from Villanova University and was commissioned in 1987.
He earned a Master of Arts in International Studies from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, Naval War College, and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School.
Nominee for Commander of Pacific Fleet: Vice Adm. Stephen “Web” Koehler
Vice Adm. Stephen T. “Web” Koehler currently serves as the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A naval aviator, he previously served as the Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, Director of Fleet Training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Director for Operations at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Koehler is a 1986 graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received a Bachelor of Science in Physics and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. He holds a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and is a graduate of the Joint Staff College and the Navy Nuclear Power Program.