Senate Confirms Adm. Caudle as Navy’s Top Officer After Months-Long Vacancy

The Senate confirmed Adm. Daryl Caudle as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) late Thursday, filling the Navy's top leadership position. His unanimous ratification ends a nearly six-month gap in a crucial military job.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command leader Adm. Caudle will lead the Navy during active Middle East operations and in the face of rising technical challenges. After commanding the USS Jefferson City, Helena, and Topeka, Caudle is an experienced submariner. He has held high positions in submarine squadrons, the Navy's 6th Fleet, and the Joint Staff.

Following the surprise firing of Adm. Lisa Franchetti during a principal restructuring of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by former President Donald Trump, the Chief of Naval Operations position has been vacant since February. Franchetti and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. left without explanation.

In January 2024, Adm. James Kilby was appointed as the interim Chief of Naval Operations after serving as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Late July saw Caudle's confirmation proceedings begin after his nomination in mid-June. He emphasized the need to improve sailors' quality of life and supported Franchetti's 2024 CNO Navigation Plan, the Navy's strategic framework. Drone technologies and multidomain threats have major implications for the Navy, he said.

Caudle wrote that weapons development should be “modular, scalable, and designed for rapid upgrade cycles.”

On Thursday night, the Senate confirmed three primary military appointments, including his. Lieutenant General Shawn Bratton has been named Vice Chief of Space Operations, while Vice Adm. Frank Bradley has been named the U.S. Special Operations Command's new chief. Both officers had their four-star promotions approved.

Caudle's nomination signals a return to steady leadership in the Navy amid rising global maritime tensions and modernization needs.

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