Shoshana Chatfield

Shoshana S. Chatfield[1]
Official portrait, 2024
57th President of the Naval War College
In office
1 August 2019 – 23 June 2023
Preceded byJeffrey A. Harley
Succeeded byPeter A. Garvin
Personal details
Born (1965-10-05) 5 October 1965 (age 59)
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 5 October 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 13 February 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 13 December 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 1 April 2020[10][11]
 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Selected May 2015[12][13]
 Captain 1 February 2009[14]
 Commander 1 August 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 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 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 3 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Establishment of the Naval Strategy Subspecialty 230X". US Navy. January 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1990. p. 154. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  6. ^ "US Naval War College gets its 1st woman president, Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield". CNN. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Flag Officer Announcement" (Press release). 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b "PN311 — Rear Adm. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy, 118th Congress (2023-2024)". U.S. Congress. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ^ The Reef. Garden Grove, California: Pacifica High School. 1983. p. 154.
  10. ^ "PN1766 — Rear Adm. (lh) Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". 21 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. ^ "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), January 2023" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  12. ^ "PN456 — Capt. Shoshana S. Chatfield — Navy". 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  13. ^ "FY-16 Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Line Selection". Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 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". 24 January 2009. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 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 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Proceedings and Debates of the 104th Congress, Second Session" (PDF). 9 September 1996. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Flag Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Commander gets resolution as her Guam assignment ends". The Guam Daily Post. 19 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Boston University Arts and Science Magazine" (PDF). Fall 2009. p. 28. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
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Military offices
Preceded by 57th President of the Naval War College
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee
2024–present 		Incumbent