David Larter writes that U.S. Navy insiders have named Adm. Mark Ferguson, Adm. Bill Gortney and Adm. Michelle Howard as CNO frontrunners.
Other potential candidates include Adm. Cecil Haney, Adm. Harry Harris, Adm. Samuel Locklear and Adm. John Richardson, the report said.
Ferguson is the commander of Naval Forces Africa and Naval Forces Europe and has previously served in Washington as the Navy’s chief of legislative affairs, chief of naval personnel and vice CNO.
Gortney currently heads the U.S. Northern Command and formerly led the Fleet Forces Command, where he spearheaded the development of the Optimized-Fleet Response Plan.
Howard serves as the vice CNO to Greenert and is known for commanding the task force that rescued the Maersk Alabama‘s Capt. Richard Phillips from pirates.