Top Women Military Leaders Removed Amid Pentagon Shake-up

By  News On Air   Apr 09, 2025

In a significant development within the U.S. military, the Pentagon has announced the removal of Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, a senior officer assigned to NATO. The decision was made due to a "loss of confidence" in her ability to lead, according to a statement issued yesterday.

Chatfield, who was appointed as the U.S. military representative to NATO in 2023, previously made history as the first woman to serve as president of the Naval War College. Her career has been widely recognized for its trailblazing achievements in naval leadership.

Alongside Chatfield’s dismissal, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed that Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy, has been relieved of her duties. This comes on the heels of the earlier firing of Admiral Linda Fagan, the first woman to head the Coast Guard, shortly after former President Donald Trump returned to office in January.

The sudden removal of these high-ranking female leaders has raised concerns and sparked discussions about the motivations and transparency behind these leadership changes. Critics are urging the Pentagon to provide more clarity amid what appears to be a reshuffling at the top levels of military leadership.

The Pentagon has not yet announced who will replace the removed officials or provided additional details on the investigations or circumstances leading to their dismissals.