Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
US Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield Dismissed Amid Diversity Controversy
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, unique as the sole female member of NATO’s military committee, was relieved of her duties over the weekend by the Trump administration, as confirmed by U.S. officials on Monday.
While official reasons for her dismissal were not disclosed, it appears to be linked to her advocacy for diversity within the armed forces, according to statements from various officials.
Chatfield reportedly received notification from Adm. Christopher Grady, acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who conveyed that the administration sought a different direction for her role.
Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had a hand in the decision, which is believed to have been made last week, although it remains uncertain if President Donald Trump directed the action. These insights were provided by three U.S. officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of personnel discussions.
With her removal, Chatfield becomes the third prominent female officer to be dismissed during Trump’s presidency. Earlier this year, Hegseth announced the termination of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations. Notably, Trump had also dismissed Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan shortly after taking office.
Both Trump and Hegseth have openly criticized what they refer to as “woke policies,” contributing to a movement focused on eliminating leaders who endorse diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as efforts to dismantle DEI programs and related content across military platforms.
Chatfield had been identified as part of a group of military officials labeled as “woke” by the conservative organization American Accountability Foundation, which urged Hegseth in a letter that a “purge” of such individuals from military positions was necessary.
In her career, Chatfield, a Navy helicopter pilot with a distinguished service record that included commanding a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, had been one of 32 representatives on NATO’s military committee, which is a crucial advisor to the North Atlantic Council and NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, bridging the gap between political leaders and military operations.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, expressed significant concern over Chatfield’s termination. He stated, “Trump’s relentless attacks on our alliances and his careless dismissal of decorated military officials make us less safe and weaken our position across the world” in a statement shared on X.
The initiative to eliminate DEI programs has faced scrutiny from lawmakers and community leaders, particularly following the recent removal of notable military figures and historical references from the Department of Defense’s online presence.
In their correspondence to Hegseth, the accountability foundation asserted that those responsible for DEI strategies should be dismissed, arguing that the focus of military leadership should be on enhancing combat readiness rather than promoting diversity and inclusion within the ranks.
The group referred to posts by Chatfield on LinkedIn, including supportive remarks about a diversity summit, and noted that she had spoken at a Women’s Equality Day event in 2015, emphasizing the value of empowering women to unlock human potential.
Additionally, she was quoted as saying, “our diversity is our strength,” a sentiment that has drawn repeated criticism from Hegseth.
A California native, Chatfield graduated from Boston University and holds both a master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from the University of San Diego. Her military service included deployments in both the Pacific and Persian Gulf regions, as well as a role as senior military assistant to the supreme allied commander in Europe. For her service, she was awarded a Bronze Star.
Source
www.yahoo.com