Military women recently sacked

The theme for the 2026 National Women's History Month is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations." Let's see how educated and inspired the generations are with regard to what's happened to military women recently.

Female enlistment in the U.S. military has continued to grow. In 2023, women made up 17.5% of active-duty military personnel. Women today serve in all branches of the military, including combat roles. But many women in leadership positions in the military have been relieved of duty during the past many months.

The first woman chief of a branch of military service, Commandant of the Coast Guard Linda Fagan

Linda Fagan graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a degree in marine science. She also attained a Master of Science in Marine Affairs at the University of Washington, as well as a Master in National Resource Strategy degree from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

While in the Coast Guard for four decades, she served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way. She earned the distinction of receiving the Coast Guard's first-ever Gold Ancient Trident award that recognizes those with personal character and performance standards that reflect the core values of the Coast Guard.

As Admiral Linda Fagan, she was nominated to be Commandant of the Coast Guard. She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in May 2022. That made Admiral Fagan the first female chief of a branch of military service. In response to the increase in cases of sexual harassment since 2017, Commandant four-star Admiral Fagan directed her senior officers to prepare to educate the Coast Guard on the principles of service. Fagan said she wanted new training courses, and the development of new policy frameworks that will ensure accountability, especially in matters of sexual harassment. Admiral Fagan stated: "We each must ensure every Coast Guard workplace has a climate that deters harmful behaviors and gives everyone the positive Coast Guard experience they expect and deserve."

On Jan. 21, 2025, Admiral Fagan was relieved of her duties. The media reported she was fired because she gave too much attention to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Commander of the 613th Air Operations Center, Colonel Julie Sposito-Salceies

Air Force Colonel Julie Sposito Salceies took command of the 613th Air Operations Center in Hawaii in 2023 after commanding the 609th Air Operations Center--the Combined Air Operations Center in the Middle East, one of the busiest commands in one of the most complex regions of the world. She was the first woman leader of the 613th.

Colonel Sposito-Salceies was known for championing women in military leadership roles. She authored an article in War Room, a publication of the Army War College. In it, she wrote about balancing personal tragedy with command after she lost two babies, one to a miscarriage and the other to a stillbirth.

On Jan. 24, 2025, Military.com reported that Colonel Sposito-Salceies was relieved of her duties "due to loss of confidence in her ability to command the organization."

Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Lieutenant General Jennifer Short

Lieutenant General Jennifer Short was a command pilot with more than 1,800 hours. She flew more than 430 combat hours in the operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

General Short completed Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama as a distinguished graduate in 1995. Over the next 30 years, she held a variety of positions at the squadron, wing, major command, headquarters and combatant command levels.

In September 2024, she was appointed Senior Military Assistant to the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. In that position, she was the top female staffer at the Department of Defense.

A Feb. 23, 2025, Daily Mail article reported General Short was ousted, stating: "Hegseth called her a 'DEI hire,' short for diversity, equity and inclusion in a book published last year."

Chief of naval operations and the first woman member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lisa Franchetti

Admiral Lisa Franchetti had a 40-year military career. She received a commission in 1985 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Northwestern University. The Navy had just ended its prohibition on women serving in sea duty seven years before.

Over the years, she commanded the destroyer U.S.S. Ross, a destroyer squadron, two aircraft carrier strike groups, all naval forces in Korea and the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. In November 2023, she was named chief of naval operations, the first woman to be named a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Before her replacement was selected, the Pentagon announced in February 2025 that Admiral Franchetti was fired. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave no reason. Defensescoop reported she was on a list of leaders associated with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. It wasn't until Aug. 25, 2025, that her replacement was selected.

According to Military.com, once she was fired, all the top ranks were filled by men. The article stated: "Franchetti's firing has left the military without a single woman in a four-star general or admiral leadership position, as women in top positions are already a rarity across the services, and many female officers say that they're concerned that the ouster will have far-reaching consequences."

The head of the Defense Health Agency, Lieutenant General Telita Crosland

Lieutenant General Telita Crosland was the first Black woman to lead the Defense Health Agency. She graduated from the U.S. Military Academy West Point and entered the Army as a Medical Corps officer in 1993. Prior to her last role, the highly decorated officer served as the Army's deputy surgeon general, according to her official Defense Department biography.

Crosland is Board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a recipient of The Surgeon General's "A" proficiency designator. Her awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Staff Badge and the Parachutist's Badge. She is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Crosland was forced to retire on Feb. 28, 2025, according to an article in The Hill. Two officials told Reuters that Crosland was informed that she must retire and was not given a reason why.

Space Force Commander in Greenland, Colonel Susannah Meyers

Colonel Susannah Meyers commanded the 821st Space Base Group that included Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. Greenland is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. After World War II, when Denmark was occupied by Germany, the United States established a base there. The base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, exists today due to agreements between the United States and Denmark, specifically for mutual defense, within a NATO framework.

Vice President of the United States JD Vance visited Pituffik Space Base in March 2025. While there, Vance gave a speech, about which BBC NEWS reported: "The vice-president scolded Denmark for not spending more on security in the region, saying they have 'not done a good job' for the people of Greenland."

After Vance's visit, there was a report the Danish foreign minister asked the U.S. to "stop treating us like dirt." The director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative in Greenland published a lengthy statement that listed his disagreements with the vice president's speech.

In response, Colonel Meyers sent an email to all personnel at Pituffik saying she "spent the weekend thinking about Friday's visit -- the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you." She added: "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice-President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base." Meyers then wrote that "as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly -- together."

Shortly thereafter, she was fired. According to Defense News, the Space Force explained Meyers was fired "for loss of confidence in her ability to lead."

United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield

Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield is a native of Garden Grove, California. She received her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1988 and earned her wings of gold in 1989. Chatfield was awarded the Navy's Political/Military Scholarship and attended the Kennedy School of Government, receiving a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University in 1997.

She was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons, before making the move to the Helicopter Sea Combat community. She deployed in helicopter detachments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf supporting carrier strike group and amphibious ready group operations.

Admiral Chatfield served as assistant professor of political science at the United States Air Force Academy. She commanded Joint Region Marianas from January. Her most recent assignment was President of the Naval War College from August 2019 to June 2023, the first woman to hold that position. She was also the United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee.

In April 2025, Vice Admiral Chatfield was relieved of her duties. The Pentagon explained that Admiral Chatfield was removed due to "a loss of confidence in her ability to lead." According to a report in Politico, she had been criticized for comments she made to the Naval War College: "I want to see members of this team offer each other respect for differences, for diversity, for the dialogue from which ideas and collaboration emerge."

Garrison Commander of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez

Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez earned her commission as a Military Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1999. Her military education includes Military Intelligence Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Exercise, Command and General Staff College, and Joint Network Attack Course, and Senior Service College.

Throughout her military career, Colonel Baez Ramirez held many leadership positions, including service in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She assumed duties as Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, on July 19, 2024, the base's first female commander in Fort McCoy's 110-plus-year history. Immediately prior to this assignment, she served as Chief, Reserve Program, United States Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

On April 21, 2025, the New York Post reported that Colonel Baez Ramirez was relieved of her duties "after the US Army base in Wisconsin failed to install photos of President Trump, Vice President Vance and Secretary Hegseth on a wall displaying its chain of command." The Economic Times said: "Hegseth on Sunday reposted an X post claiming: 'Commander of Fort McCoy, whose base chain-of-command board was missing photos of Trump, Vance and Hegseth, has been SUSPENDED.'"

The first woman to lead the U.S. Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Yvette Gonzalez Davids

In January 2024, Vice Admiral Yvette Gonzalez Davids became the first woman and the first Hispanic person to head the U.S. Naval Academy in its 180-year history. Davids graduated from the Naval Academy in 1989, from the Naval War College in 2002 and from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2012.

She served on various ships in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Her decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (three awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Her promotions were approved by the United States Senate in 2017, 2020 and 2023 after she commanded many naval ships.

In July 2025, Hegseth announced Davids would be replaced. The Navy Times said the Defense Department did not specify the reason for Davids' removal.

Naval Reserve Chief Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore

Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore was career helicopter pilot. She is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National Defense University at the Joint Forces Staff College. She was designated a naval aviator in 1993. Her flying tours include Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons Eight in Norfolk, Virginia and Three in San Diego, California as well as Commander, Helicopter Tactical Wing Pacific. She affiliated with the Navy Reserve (NR) in 2000. 

Admiral Lacore was mobilized to Kabul. Other assignments included commander of a destroyer squadron, commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, vice commander of the Sixth Fleet, Chief of Staff, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and commandant of the Naval District Washington.  

Admiral Lacore became the Navy Reserve Chief in 2024. In that capacity, she led approximately 59,000 Reserve Component personnel who supported the Navy, Marine Corps and joint forces. 

In August 2025, Hegseth fired her. Task & Purpose reported that no reason was given.  

Director of Medical Services Navy Commander Janelle Marra

The Navy Times reported on Sept. 16, 2025 that a longtime Navy doctor, Commander Janelle Marra, was relieved of her duties as director of medical services at Expeditionary Medical Facility 150-Bravo in San Diego. 

According to the article, on Sept. 4, a social media account with 4.4 million viewers posted a screenshot of Marra's LinkedIn account. The screenshot called attention to Marra's displayed pronouns, "she/her," as well as her displayed title of "Navy Deputy Medical Director for Transgender Health Care," with a caption that asked the defense secretary to look into the role. Several hours later, Hegseth reposted the screenshot on his X account with a caption that read, "Pronouns UPDATED: She/Her/Fired."

The article went on to report that it appeared Marra never held the position of Director for Transgender Health Care. At one time, there was a proposal for a transgender health center, but such a center was never created.

Conclusion

It's unknown why so many women leaders in the military have been sacked recently. Several news sources have made statements about the situation.

Fox16 News reported: "All women have now been purged from the military's top jobs, with no female four-star officers on active duty and none in pending appointments for four or three-star roles."

An article in The Atlantic is titled: "The Administration Wants Military Women to Know Their Place."

The Military Times quoted a former sergeant major of the Army: "We're hurting the wrong people. What is the metric that's even being used? They haven't been negligent in their duties."

The Hill wrote: "Hegseth's ousting of female leaders may have 'chilling effect' at Pentagon." And it quoted Hegseth: "The single dumbest phrase in military history is 'our diversity is our strength.'" The article also says that commemorations and celebrations of Women's History Month have been ended by the Pentagon.

At Hegseth's gathering of military leaders last Sept. 30, he said: "When it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral ... If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it."

The story that women have been given an easier time than men in the military may contain some amount of lore. Several months ago, at Hegseth's behest, the Pentagon launched a review of the effectiveness of women in combat rolls. That call for a review resulted in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services subcommittee during which the leaders of the military branches were questioned about women in the military, some 10 years after the ban on women in combat positions was lifted. According to a Feb. 12 article in the Army Times, enlisted leaders from the five services said they have yet to see any indication that women serving in combat units have caused standards to lower.

Last Oct. 5, retired General Peter Chiarelli said on ABC: "When the Army opened up the Ranger program [to women], the standards changed not at all." On the same program was a woman who was in the first class at Westpoint that accepted women. She talked about the women students' experiences, noting an occasion when a woman student smartly saluted a superior officer, saying "Good morning, Sir," only to hear back: "It was a good morning until you bitches got here."