Top Female NATO Military Leader Dismissed by Trump Administration

WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the weekend, Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the sole woman serving on NATO’s military committee, was relieved of her duties by the Trump administration, U.S. officials reported on Monday.

The dismissal came without an official explanation, though sources suggested it might be connected to her advocacy for diversity within the military.

Officials detailed that Adm. Christopher Grady, acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed Chatfield about the decision. It seems the administration wanted to take a different approach to the role.

It’s believed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the call last week, although there’s uncertainty about whether President Donald Trump was directly involved. Three officials, speaking anonymously to discuss the personnel change, shared these insights.

Chatfield is notably the third prominent female officer to be dismissed since Trump entered office. Earlier, in February, Hegseth had fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, while Trump dismissed Adm. Linda Fagan of the Coast Guard shortly after his inauguration.

Both Trump and Hegseth have openly denounced “woke” policies, striving to eliminate leaders who advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as to erase DEI initiatives across online platforms.

Chatfield appeared on a list compiled by the conservative American Accountability Foundation, branding military leaders they view as “woke”. The foundation urged Hegseth in a letter to “purge the woke from the military,” emphasizing the necessity of such actions.

Having served as a Navy helicopter pilot and led a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, Chatfield was one of 32 representatives on NATO’s military committee. This group is crucial in providing military advice to the North Atlantic Council and NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, acting as the bridge between political and military spheres within NATO.

Virginia’s Democratic Senator Mark Warner expressed his alarm over the firing.

“Trump’s ongoing assault on our alliances and his casual dismissal of esteemed military personnel diminishes our security and erodes our global standing,” Warner posted on X.

Efforts to dismantle DEI content and programs have sparked concerns from lawmakers, community leaders, and citizens, who are angered by the removal of military achievements and historical references from Defense Department outlets.

In their letter, the accountability foundation insisted those behind DEI initiatives “must be fired,” arguing that military leaders should prioritize combat readiness over fostering diversity.

The foundation noted that Chatfield had posted supportive comments on LinkedIn about a diversity summit and delivered a speech during the 2015 Women’s Equality Day. They cited her belief that empowering women can unlock vast human potential.

Chatfield also reportedly stated, “our diversity is our strength,” a sentiment repeatedly criticized by Hegseth.

Originally from Garden Grove, California, Chatfield is an alumna of Boston University, Harvard University (master’s degree), and the University of San Diego (doctorate).

Her military career saw her deployed to both the Pacific and Persian Gulf as a pilot, and she later served as the senior military assistant to the supreme allied commander Europe, earning a Bronze Star for her service.