Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was named as the new president of the U.S. Naval War College earlier today. She will serve as the college's first female president in its 135 year history. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer named Chatfield in a statement that followed the college's graduation ceremony in Rhode Island, speaking effusively of Chatfield and calling her a "historic choice."

Chatfield, a helicopter pilot who commands Joint Region Marianas in Guam, was named just a few days after the departure of the former Naval War College president. Chatfield previously served as an associate professor of political science at U.S. Air Force Academy and as team commander of a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan. Chatfield additionally served as deputy military representative to the NATO Military Committee.

Chatfield received her master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. She further received a doctorate in education from the University of San Diego in 2009. In his statement, Spencer described Chatfield as "the embodiment of the type of warrior-scholar we need now to lead this storied institution as it educates our next generation of leaders."

The Naval War College is one of five military senior service colleges meant to prepare students to become high-ranking members of military leadership through rigorous academics and training.

Chatfield will replace Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley, who was removed from his post on Monday following the revelation that he was under investigation for inappropriate conduct. Allegations against the former president include excessive spending, abusing his hiring authority, and various other incidences of erratic behavior including offering students 'free hugs' and keeping a margarita machine in his office. An anonymous complaint against Harley filed in April 2018 stated that his "destructive and ethically challenged leadership style is destroying the college."