Navy leader to focus on increasing readiness of additional ships for action

Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations, said the Navy must “get more players on the field” as international crises demand more of the naval force. Franchetti is focused on improving the Navy’s readiness and addressing naval needs. The Navy is postured to respond to escalating crises in Ukraine and Israel, actively shooting down Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea, and deterring Chinese aggression in the Pacific. A major element of Franchetti’s efforts involves prioritizing readiness and capabilities required to fight and win at sea, as well as integrating with the Marine Corps and synchronizing warfighting efforts with the Joint Force. Franchetti emphasized the need for a balanced set of investments to meet different needs in each time horizon. The Navy’s top budget priority remains the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, indicating that readiness is a major priority.