President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE is considering Navy Adm. Michelle Howard to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman reported Thursday.

Trump transition said to be eyeing Navy Admiral Michelle Howard to head the VA. Link tk — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 15, 2016

First four-star woman in Navy history. And she led the team that saved Captain Phillips.https://t.co/2FzRQRFPB6 — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) December 15, 2016

Howard, who serves as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, was the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship.

Earlier this week, a group of 20 veterans organizations sent a letter to Trump asking him to "strongly consider" keeping Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald.

ADVERTISEMENT

"While you continue your deliberations over who you will select to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, we ask you to strongly consider the proven track record of the current VA Secretary, Bob McDonald, who is leading the largest transformation in the department’s history," the groups said in the letter.

The groups said in the letter that McDonald led an agency-wide transformation of the VA, which is showing "early signs of success."

The VA faced criticism in 2014 after news outlets uncovered the systemic doctoring of records to hide long wait times for veterans' appointments.

The scandal led to the resignation of then-VA secretary Eric Shinseki Eric Ken ShinsekiVA might not be able to end veteran homelessness, but we shouldn't stop trying Bill HR 2333 is a good step to helping curb veteran suicide Senate confirms Trump's VA pick despite opposition from some Dems MORE.

McDonald was brought in to make changes in the wake of the scandal.

--This report was updated at 11:56 a.m.