The Pentagon has pulled back the White House’s nominee to lead U.S. 7th fleet, officials confirmed to USNI News.
Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, current head of the chief of naval operation’s air warfare directorate (OPNAV N98), was nominated in late June to lead the Navy’s operational fleet in the Western Pacific.
Earlier this week, however, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth withdrew Donnelly’s nomination from consideration for the job, according to a senior defense official in a statement provided to USNI News.
“Secretary Hegseth has chosen to withdraw Admiral Donnelly’s nomination to lead 7th fleet,” reads the statement. “The Secretary is thankful for his continued service and wishes him luck in his next position. The Department will open up nominations for the 7th fleet commander.”
Neither the Pentagon nor the Navy elaborated on the reason for Donnelly’s withdrawal.
On Thursday, the Daily Wire reported Donnelly’s name was withdrawn from the nomination following questions from the outlet about drag performances that were held aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) when he was in command from 2016 to 2018.
Donnelly, a career naval aviator with extensive Pacific experience, has deployed flying the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18F Super Hornet as a weapons systems officer. He commanded the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, the former amphibious warship USS Denver (LPD-9. He also commanded the Japan-based Carrier Strike Group 5 and was the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. He is a 1989 graduate of Villanova University.
