President Trump nominated Adm. Daryl Caudle to be the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) this month, after removing Adm. Lisa Franchetti about four months ago.
According to a congressional notification
, the Senate received the nomination of Caudle on June 17, which was then referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee. A nomination hearing has not yet been scheduled as of publication time.
Caudle has served as commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command since late 2021, having succeeded Adm. Chris Grady, who at the time was being nominated as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a role he still holds (Defense Daily, Dec. 9, 2021).
Before leading Fleet Forces, Caudle had numerous positions in submarine forces. Earlier in his career he was commanding officer of the USS Jefferson City (SSN-759) and as deputy commander of Submarine Squadron 1 he served as commanding officer of USS Topeka (SSN-754) and USS Helena (SSN-725) due to emergent losses of the normally assigned commanding officers. He also commanded Submarine Squadron 3.
Later on, Caudle served as commander of Naval Submarine Forces; Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and commander of Allied Submarine Command.
Caudle also has experience as vice director for strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff (J-5); commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and commander of Submarine Group Eight.
Trump abruptly fired Franchetti and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown in February with no reason given, which led to Adm. James Kilby, Vice CNO, to become acting CNO (Defense Daily, Feb. 24).
Kilby will remain as Acting CNO until Caudle is confirmed by the Senate.
Relatedly, the administration is still waiting for the Senate to schedule a nomination hearing for Hung Cao, Trump’s pick for the second highest civilian spot in the Navy Department, under secretary of the Navy (Defense Daily, Feb. 28).
After serving in several military positions leading up to the rank of captain, Cao ran for and lost a 2022 bid for the Virginia 10th congressional district to incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.).