Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti delivers remarks after relieving Adm. Mike Gilday on Aug. 14, 2023. USNI News Photo
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Adm. Lisa Franchetti took command of the U.S. Navy as the acting chief of naval operations, during a Monday morning ceremony at the Naval Academy.
Franchetti took charge of the service from retiring Chief of Naval Operations Adm Mike Gilday. Members of the official party, which included Franchetti, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, arrived to the ringing of a bell from the first ship on which Gilday served.
Gilday relinquished his command nearly four years to the day that he began his tenure as the Navy’s highest officer. Unlike when Gilday started as CNO, he will not leave the position through a change of command but rather a relinquishment of office ceremony.
Franchetti was nominated to lead the service last month.
Gilday, like the other top officers of the military, is leaving the office to an acting CNO as military promotions requiring Senate confirmation are currently on hold by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who has prevented service nominations from getting approval over the Pentagon’s policy of paying for leave and travel for non-covered reproductive care.
It is now the first time in the Department of Defense’s history that three of the military’s top officers are in acting positions, Austin said during his remarks at the ceremony.
In his remarks, Austin called on the Senate to confirm the now more than 300 military nominations, including Franchetti, as well as Gen. Eric Smith, who is currently in the position of acting commandant of the Marine Corps.
“This is unprecedented. It is unnecessary. And it is unsafe,” Austin said.
“Our troops deserve better.”