Department of Defense spokesman Sean Parnell responded with fire to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), criticizing the recent firing of U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, appearing to confirm rumors that Chatfield was fired over her alleged refusal to hang portraits of President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at her post as U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium.
Reuters was first to report Chatfield’s firing Monday night, but did not report a cause.
Tuesday morning, Human Events senior editor and former Navy officer Jack Posobiec reported without citing sources, “BREAKING: Per report, Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield refused to put up POTUS & SECDEF pictures in NATO HQ. Also held an “all hands” where she said “we will wait them out 4 years” She has been relieved of duty”
BREAKING: Per report, Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield refused to put up POTUS & SECDEF pictures in NATO HQ. Also held an “all hands” where she said “we will wait them out 4 years”
She has been relieved of duty
— Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) April 8, 2025
On Tuesday morning, Parnell posted, “Secretary Hegseth has removed U.S. Navy Vice Admiral 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.”
Secretary Hegseth has removed U.S. Navy Vice Admiral 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.
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) April 8, 2025
Parnell’s statement did not mention a failure to hang portraits of the new civilian leadership of the military that was rumored to be the cause of Chatfield’s dismissal.
Crockett posted Tuesday night in response to Parnell, “They fired Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield—not because she couldn’t do the job, but because she wouldn’t hang up pictures of Trump and Hegseth. This ain’t about merit—it’s about ego.”
They fired Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield—not because she couldn’t do the job, but because she wouldn’t hang up pictures of Trump and Hegseth. This ain’t about merit—it’s about ego. https://t.co/W20f4xotwB
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) April 9, 2025
While not directly confirming the portrait rumor, Parnell’s scathing response to Crockett all but confirmed it:
“Congresswoman, I realize this may be a foreign concept to you but here at the DoD if you disrespect the chain of command & don’t do your job, you will be replaced. Period.”
Congresswoman, I realize this may be a foreign concept to you but here at the DoD if you disrespect the chain of command & don’t do your job, you will be replaced.
Period. https://t.co/HrtUpI9Owc
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) April 9, 2025
Chatfield’s Navy bio as of 2024:
Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield is a native of Garden Grove, California, and a 1987 graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and French Language and Literature. She received her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 1988 and earned her wings of gold in 1989. Chatfield was awarded the Navy’s Political/Military (Pol-Mil) Scholarship and attended the Kennedy School of Government, receiving a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Universityin 1997. In 2009, the University of San Diego conferred upon her a doctorate of education.
She was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons (HC), serving in HC-1, HC-3, HC-5 and twice in HC-11 before making the move to the Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) community.
Operationally, she flew the SH-3, CH-46D and MH-60S and deployed in helicopter detachments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf supporting carrier strike group and amphibious ready group operations.
Ashore, she participated in the Joint Staff/OSD Internship Program, augmenting the Joint Staff, Plans and Policy (J-5) Directorate, Central & Eastern European Branch; was assigned as deputy executive assistant to the chief of naval operations; was senior military assistant to the supreme allied commander Europe; and was the United States deputy military representative to the NATO Military Committee.
She served as assistant professor of political science at the United States Air Force Academy from 2001-2004.
Chatfield was the 20th commanding officer of HC-5 and, upon its disestablishment, the first commanding officer of HSC-25, the Island Knights. She subsequently commanded a joint provincial reconstruction team in Farah Province, Afghanistan, in 2008, and was type wing commander of HSC Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 2011-2013. She commanded Joint Region Marianas from January 2017 to August 2019. Her most recent assignment was President of the Naval War College from August 2019 to June 2023.
Her personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various unit awards.
Chatfield had been on a list of ‘woke’ senior military officers compiled by a conservative group, the American Accountability Foundation, seeking their dismissal that was address to Hegseth before he took office.
The group posted a response on Tuesday to news of Chatfield’s firing:
BREAKING: President Trump & @PeteHegseth just FIRED Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield.
Here’s a report on her priorities as a leader of the U.S. Navy:
“Just before the cake-cutting at the end of the Women’s Equality Day observance, Chatfield said she was pleased that the cake was decorated in purple, the color that represents a joint environment — many services working together.
“Our diversity is our strength,” she said, adding that the secrets are how to get the best out of each person and how to make sure that none of their talents is wasted. “Finding a way to be respectful of the differences is where our growth is.”
Chatfield summed up the importance of equal rights by quoting Slide 35 of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute’s informational presentation on Women’s Equality Day:
Investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.”
BREAKING: President Trump & @PeteHegseth just FIRED Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield.
Here’s a report on her priorities as a leader of the U.S. Navy:
“Just before the cake-cutting at the end of the Women’s Equality Day observance, Chatfield said she was pleased that the… pic.twitter.com/5ayYh2QskY
— American Accountability Foundation (@Theswampmonitor) April 8, 2025
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