US defense secretary James Mattis has nominated a former carrier strike group commander to lead US Navy forces in Europe and Africa.
Rear Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti was also nominated for appointment to the rank of vice admiral.
Should the nomination be confirmed, Franchetti will also be leading Task Force Six, Striking and Support Forces NATO and Joint Force Maritime Component commander Europe, Naples, Italy.
Franchetti is currently serving as chief of staff, J5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
Her sea assignments include auxiliaries officer and first division officer on USS Shenandoah (AD 44); navigator and jumboization coordinator on USS Monongahela (AO 178); operations officer on USS Moosbrugger (DD 980); combat systems officer and chief staff officer for Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2; executive officer of USS Stout (DDG 55); and assistant surface operations officer on the USS George Washington Strike Group.
Franchetti commanded USS Ross (DDG 71); DESRON-21, embarked on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74); Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, embarked on USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); and CSG-15. She also served as commander of Pacific Partnership 2010, embarked on USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).