WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is changing the leadership of the U.S. Naval Academy, moving to replace the first woman to hold the prestigious post with the first Marine Corps general to do so.
Hegseth announced Friday that Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte has been nominated as superintendent of the Naval Academy by President Donald Trump who wants Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the current superintendent, to instead serve on the chief of naval operations staff.
The moves are the latest changes to the upper ranks of the military since Hegseth’s confirmation. He and Trump fired the military’s most senior officer, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gone, too, is Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to lead the Navy.
Before his nomination for defense secretary, Hegseth said on a podcast interview that women “straight up” do not belong in military combat roles. He reversed his position weeks later as he faced an uphill path to Senate confirmation.
Davids, who has overseen the Naval Academy since January 2024, is being moved from that premier position than the usual tenure. But she is not retiring, as is required for former superintendents unless Congress approves a waiver.
More: Hegseth says he plans to cut 20% of senior generals and admirals, extending Pentagon purge
Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said in a statement Davids and Borgschulte both “represent the very best of naval service.”
Davids said she’s honored to be nominated as a deputy chief of naval operations, and looks forward “continuing to serve alongside America’s strongest warfighters.”
Both Davids and Borgschulte must be confirmed by the Senate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hegseth moving first female superintendent of Naval Academy to new post
