Senate confirms top leaders for Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps

The Senate on Thursday confirmed top military leaders for the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, bypassing a 10-month blanket hold on promotions for generals and admirals from Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Senators confirmed Adm. Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations, Gen. David Allvin as Air Force chief of staff, and Lt. Gen. Chris Mahoney as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.

“They are outstanding leaders who have faithfully served their country for decades,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said following the confirmation votes. “I know they will continue to be great leaders of our forces as they continue to tackle the crucial national security issues of these challenging times.”

Adm. Franchetti and Gen. Allvin were confirmed by a 95-1 vote. Senators voted 86-0 for Gen. Mahoney to be the second most senior officer in the Marine Corps. The job took on an added urgency after Gen. Eric Smith, the recently confirmed commandant, was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, Rhode Island Democrat, called Adm. Franchetti’s promotion historic. She is the first woman to sit as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I am glad we have finally reached this moment,” Mr. Reed said. “I know that [she] will provide the nation’s sailors, their families, and Navy civilian employees with the leadership they deserve.”

Mr. Tuberville is still effectively blocking promotions and reassignments for hundreds of generals and admirals to protest the Defense Department’s policy that funds travel and expenses for service members to go to different states for abortions. The policy was adopted last year after the Supreme Court struck down the Roe v. Wade abortion decision.

Thursday’s confirmation votes came the day after a group of frustrated Republican senators spent several hours on the chamber floor in a bid to confirm dozens of senior military officers. Over more than four hours Wednesday night, they took shifts in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to get promotions for 61 generals and admirals.

Mr. Tuberville remained on the Senate floor, voicing his objection to each vote as it was brought up.