In a shocking incident, the Trump’s administration has fired a top U.S. Navy Vice, Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military committee, over the weekend.
U.S. Navy officials confirmed the removal on Monday April, 7, 2025, , stating there is no official reason was provided for the decision.
Media source suggests her past statements supporting diversity and inclusion likely contributed to the decision.
Adm. Christopher Grady called Chatfield and told her the administration wanted new leadership for the NATO role.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly made the final call last week, though Trump’s involvement remains unclear.
Chatfield becomes the third high-ranking female officer dismissed since Trump returned to office.
Hegseth fired Navy chief Lisa Franchetti in February, while Trump removed Coast Guard head Linda Fagan in January.
Trump and Hegseth have vowed to end what they call ‘woke’ policies in the military.
Their administration has aggressively cut Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across all military branches.
Chatfield appeared on a conservative group’s list of ‘woke’ officers targeted for removal.
The American Accountability Foundation urged Hegseth to “purge” DEI supporters from leadership positions.
The group criticized Chatfield’s support for a diversity summit and her 2015 Women’s Equality Day speech.
She was quoted saying, ‘our diversity is our strength’ a phrase Hegseth strongly opposes.
Chatfield, a decorated Navy helicopter pilot, once led a reconstruction team in Afghanistan.
She had served as one of NATO’s 32 top military representatives, advising key alliance bodies.
Senator Mark Warner called the firing deeply disturbing and warned it weakens U.S. alliances and security.
He accused Trump of undermining the military by ousting respected, decorated leaders.
Critics fear the campaign against DEI erases history and removes qualified leaders from essential roles.
Chatfield, from California, holds degrees from Harvard and the University of San Diego.
She earned a Bronze Star and served in senior NATO and Pentagon leadership roles.