Former Commander of Joint Region Marianas Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was fired Wednesday as the top U.S. forces leader for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
A one paragraph announcement was posted April 9 on the U.S. Department of Defense website.
"Secretary (Pete) Hegseth has removed U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield from her position as U.S. representative to NATO's military committee due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead. The Defense Department is grateful for her many years of military service," the statement said.
Chatfield served as JRM commander on Guam from January 2017 to August 2019.
She left to become the first female president of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and was later assigned as the U.S. representative at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said Thursday that she was surprised by the news, "during our brief time working together in the administration, we genuinely enjoyed working with her and found her to be smart, strategic, logical and deeply compassionate, especially in her commitment to defending our island and our nation."
"It has been an honor serving with the service members and DOD civilians of the Joint Region Marianas team and a privilege working with the governor of Guam and all of our island community partners," Chatfield is quoted as saying in a June 15, 2019, Post article.
"I am humbled by my selection as the 57th president of the Naval War College and I look forward to serving the U.S. Navy, the faculty and the students of the Naval War College in this capacity," she added.
In a statement on his congressional website, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said, "President Trump’s unjustified dismissal of Vice Adm. Chatfield is disgraceful. Adm. Chatfield is among the finest military officers our nation has to offer, and she has distinguished herself as the U.S. military representative to NATO," Reed said.
"Her 38-year career as a Navy pilot, foreign policy expert, and preeminent military educator - including as president of the Naval War College - will leave a lasting legacy on the Navy and throughout the military. Adm. Chatfield’s record of selfless service is unblemished by President Trump’s behavior," Reed said.
Reed noted that Trump has fired 10 generals and admirals without explanation, "including our most experienced combat leaders."
"I will continue to call out this unconscionable behavior and sound the alarm about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test," Reed said in urging Republican colleagues to join him in demanding an explanation from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.
The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Chatfield to her post in December 2023.