President Trump will nominate Vice Adm. Michael Gilday, director of the Joint Staff, to serve as the next chief of naval operations, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. A U.S. official said the president approved Gilday’s nomination for the post during a meeting with Navy officials at the White House on Wednesday.Â
USNI News reported that Gilday’s selection suggests that the administration is bypassing seven four-star admirals as candidates for the Navy’s top uniformed position. “There was a determination that all of the four-stars needed to stay where they are right now,†a defense official told the publication.
Gilday was the former head of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and 10th Fleet. As a flag officer, he served as director of operations for U.S. Cyber Command; chief of staff for Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO; and head of operations for NATO’s Joint Force Command Lisbon.
