Brandon J. Weichert
United States Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, who had been serving as the U.S. military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), blazed a remarkable trail for herself.
Chatfield’s military credentials are indisputable. From serving as a helicopter pilot—flying the SH-3, CH-46D, and MH-60S—she went on to command the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-5) and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC-25).
Chatfield then led a joint reconstruction team in Farah Province, Afghanistan, in 2008. She was also the first woman to hold the position of president of the prestigious Naval War College.
The Firing Heard ‘Round the World
Yet, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on Tuesday, “Secretary [Pete] Hegseth has removed U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield from her position as U.S. representative to NATO’s military committee due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
That announcement quickly led to a media firestorm—and predictable criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who insist that the firing was a result of chauvinism and accuse President Donald Trump of dismissing capable officers in favor of political cronies. For their part, Republicans have fired back that Chatfield was the public face of the dreaded DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) craze that has gripped the minds of America’s military leaders for far too long.
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