Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s highest-ranking officer, has successfully undergone treatment for early-stage breast cancer, according to an announcement from the service. Her stage 1 cancer was discovered during a routine mammogram in June, prompting her to undergo outpatient surgery the following month at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During the procedure, Franchetti temporarily transferred her duties to the vice chief of naval operations.
This month, she completed additional therapy and is now cancer-free, as reported by the Navy. Franchetti’s diagnosis makes her the second high-ranking defense official this year to reveal a battle with cancer. Earlier in 2024, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced public scrutiny after delaying the disclosure of his prostate cancer treatment, which included a hospital stay in January.
Franchetti, however, immediately informed key officials within her command structure, including Austin, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and the secretary of the Navy, when she was first diagnosed. She kept them updated again when she underwent surgery in July.
Nominated by President Joe Biden in 2023 to become the first female chief of naval operations, Franchetti has had a distinguished career in surface warfare, commanding at various levels. She previously led the U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Korea and was the second woman in history to be promoted to the rank of four-star admiral. Her career includes multiple deployments, including commanding a naval destroyer and serving as a strike group commander for aircraft carriers.
Franchetti expressed gratitude for the care she received at Walter Reed and emphasized the importance of early detection, noting how fortunate she felt that her cancer was caught in its early stages. She also expressed her support for routine screenings as a vital tool in cancer prevention.
