Shoshana Chatfield
Shoshana S. Chatfield[1] | |
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![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
57th President of the Naval War College | |
In office August 1, 2019 – June 23, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Jeffrey A. Harley |
Succeeded by | Peter A. Garvin |
Personal details | |
Born | Orange County, California[2] | October 5, 1965
Spouse | David Scovel[3] |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1988–present |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal |
Academic background | |
Alma mater |
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Thesis | Restoring confidence: A qualitative study of the experience of interim commanding officers in U.S. Navy operational units (2009) |
Doctoral advisor | Mary Woods Scherr |
Academic work | |
Discipline |
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Institutions | |
Shoshana Simone Chatfield[4] (born October 5, 1965)[2][5] is a United States Navy vice admiral. She served as the president of the Naval War College from 2019 to 2023 and was the first woman to hold that position.[6] Chatfield then served as United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee from December 2023 to April 2025.
Early life and education
[edit]Shoshana Chatfield grew up in Garden Grove, California, and graduated from Pacifica High School in 1983.[7] She then received her bachelor's degree in International Relations and French from Boston University in 1987. After she received a commission in the Navy, she attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and received a Master of Public Administration. Chatfield later received a Doctor of Education from the University of San Diego.[1] Chatfield is Jewish.[8][9][10]
Military career
[edit]Rank | Date |
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April 1, 2020[11][12] |
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Selected May 2015[13][14] |
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February 1, 2009[15] |
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August 1, 2002[16] |
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Selected September 1996[17] |
Admiral Chatfield commissioned through Boston University's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program, and qualified as a naval helicopter pilot in 1989. She piloted the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, and the Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk while attached to Helicopter Combat Support and Helicopter Sea Combat squadrons.
She commanded several military units, including Joint Region Marianas and the Naval War College.
From 2001 to 2004, she was an assistant professor of political science at the United States Air Force Academy.[1]
In February 2023, Chatfield was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as the United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee.[18] She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 13, 2023.[19] On April 7, 2025, it was reported that Chatfield had been removed from her NATO post by the Trump administration.[20][21] The following day, a Pentagon spokesperson said that the Secretary of Defense removed Chatfield due to "a loss of confidence in her ability to lead".[22]
Honors and awards
[edit]In addition to her military honors, Admiral Chatfield has received recognition from the government of Guam for her leadership and contributions to the island.[23] In 2009, she was named as one of Boston University's distinguished alumni.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
- ^ "Last Call". Shipmate. Vol. 81, no. 3. United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. April–May 2018. p. 151. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Establishment of the Naval Strategy Subspecialty 230X". US Navy. January 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 154. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ "US Naval War College gets its 1st woman president, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield". CNN. June 15, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ The Reef. Garden Grove, California: Pacifica High School. 1983. p. 154.
- ^ Feldman, Joseph (April 7, 2025). "Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, First Jewish Woman to Lead Naval War College, Fired". VINnews. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "Trump Fires Senior Jewish Admiral Shoshana Chatfield Amid Pentagon Shake-Up". Yeshiva World News. April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "Jewish US admiral at NATO fired in expanding national security purge". Ynetnews. Reuters. April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "PN1766 — Rear Adm. (lh) Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". May 21, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), January 2023" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "PN456 — Capt. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". May 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "FY-16 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Line Selection". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Active-Duty Navy promotions to the permanent or temporary grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff corps, and Chief Warrant Officer". January 24, 2009. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Active Duty Navy promotions to the permanent or temporary grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff corps, and Chief Warrant Officer W4, and W3". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Proceedings and Debates of the 104th Congress, Second Session" (PDF). September 9, 1996. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Flag Officer Announcement" (Press release). February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024.
- ^ "PN311 — Rear Adm. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees; Bayer, Lili (April 7, 2025). "US admiral at NATO fired in expanding national security purge". Reuters.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan; Francis, Ellen; Ryan, Missy (April 7, 2025). "U.S. admiral at NATO fired, latest ouster in Trump military purge". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ Watson, Eleanor (April 8, 2025). "With ousting of admiral to NATO, Trump administration has fired at least 9 senior officers". CBS News. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "Commander gets resolution as her Guam assignment ends". The Guam Daily Post. July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Boston University Arts and Science Magazine" (PDF). Fall 2009. p. 28. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
External links
[edit]Media related to Shoshana S. Chatfield at Wikimedia Commons
- 1965 births
- Living people
- People from Garden Grove, California
- Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni
- United States Naval Aviators
- Harvard Kennedy School alumni
- University of San Diego alumni
- Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Female admirals of the United States Navy
- United States Navy rear admirals (upper half)
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- 20th-century American naval officers
- 21st-century American naval officers
- Presidents of the Naval War College
- 20th-century American women
- 21st-century American women
- Military personnel from California
- Women heads of universities and colleges