Adm. Daryl Caudle officially took the reins as the 34th chief of naval operations as the service continues to be shaken by a purge of top leaders that ousted his predecessor six months ago.
Neither Caudle nor Navy Secretary John Phelan mentioned the recent upheaval during a ceremony on Monday at the Washington Navy Yard marking Caudle’s assumption of office.
“Ensuring quality of service is my priority — from housing, childcare, healthcare, to investing in world-class training and qualification standards — we will make certain our sailors have everything they need to be successful,” Caudle said. “Because when they sail into harm’s way, they deserve nothing less than the absolute best.”
Monday’s ceremony marked the first time that the Navy had a permanent CNO since Adm. Lisa Franchetti wa