Shoshana S. Chatfield[1]
Chatfield in 2024
57th President of the Naval War College
In office
August 1, 2019 – June 23, 2023
Preceded byJeffrey A. Harley
Succeeded byPeter A. Garvin
Personal details
Born (1965-10-05) October 5, 1965 (age 58)
Orange County, California[2]
SpouseDavid Scovel[3]
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1988–present
RankVice Admiral
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisRestoring confidence: A qualitative study of the experience of interim commanding officers in U.S. Navy operational units (2009)
Doctoral advisorMary Woods Scherr
Academic work
Discipline
  • Political science
  • Leadership development
Institutions

Shoshana Simone Chatfield[4] (born October 5, 1965)[2][5] is a United States Navy vice admiral, and served as the president of the Naval War College from 2019 to 2023. She is the first woman to ever hold that position.[6] On February 13, 2023, Rear Admiral Chatfield was nominated for promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral and assignment as the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium.[7] She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 13, 2023.[8]


Early life and education

Shoshana Chatfield hails from Garden Grove, California, graduating from Pacifica High School in 1983.[9] She then received her bachelor's degree in International Relations and French from Boston University in 1987. After she received a commission in the Navy, she would attend the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and receive a Master's degree in Public Administration. Admiral Chatfield would go on to receive a Doctorate of education from the University of San Diego.[1]

Military career

Promotions
Rank Date
 Rear Admiral April 1, 2020[10][11]
 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Selected May 2015[12][13]
 Captain February 1, 2009[14]
 Commander August 1, 2002[15]
 Lieutenant Commander Selected September 1996[16]

Admiral Chatfield commissioned through Boston University's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program, and qualified as a naval helicopter pilot in 1989. She's flown the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight, Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, and the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk while attached to Helicopter Combat Support and Helicopter Sea Combat squadrons.

She has commanded several military units, including Joint Region Marianas and, most recently, the Naval War College.

From 2001 to 2004 she was an assistant professor of political science at the United States Air Force Academy.[1]

In February 2023, Chatfield was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as the United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee.[8][17]

Honors and awards

In addition to her military honors, Admiral Chatfield has received recognition from the government of Guam for her leadership and contributions to the island.[18] In 2009, she was named as one of Boston University's distinguished alumni.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Navy.mil Leadership Biographies". US Navy. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
  3. ^ "Last Call". Shipmate. Vol. 81, no. 3. United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. April–May 2018. p. 151. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "Establishment of the Naval Strategy Subspecialty 230X". US Navy. January 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  5. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 154. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "US Naval War College gets its 1st woman president, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield". CNN. June 15, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  7. ^ "Flag Officer Announcement" (Press release). February 14, 2023. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "PN311 — Rear Adm. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  9. ^ The Reef. Garden Grove, California: Pacifica High School. 1983. p. 154.
  10. ^ "PN1766 — Rear Adm. (lh) Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". May 21, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), January 2023" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "PN456 — Capt. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". May 21, 2015. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "FY-16 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Line Selection". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  14. ^ "Active-Duty Navy promotions to the permanent or temporary grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff corps, and Chief Warrant Officer". January 24, 2009. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "Active Duty Navy promotions to the permanent or temporary grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff corps, and Chief Warrant Officer W4, and W3". Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Proceedings and Debates of the 104th Congress, Second Session" (PDF). September 9, 1996. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Flag Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Commander gets resolution as her Guam assignment ends". The Guam Daily Post. July 19, 2019.
  19. ^ "Boston University Arts and Science Magazine" (PDF). Fall 2009. p. 28. Retrieved August 3, 2019.

External links

Military offices Preceded byJeffrey A. Harley 57th President of the Naval War College 2019–2023 Succeeded byPeter A. Garvin Preceded byEdwin J. Deedrick United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee 2024–present Incumbent
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