CNO: U.S. Naval Aviators Will No Longer Command Amphibious Warships

Naval aviators will no longer command amphibious warships, according to a directive issued last week by Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle. Citing poor amphibious ship readiness and operational availability, Caudle said that surface warfare officers would become the only officers authorized to command amphibs starting in Fiscal Year 2028, according to the April 24 memo reviewed by USNI News. “Over the past two years, much work has been conducted to assess the reasons why, synthesize the root causes, and put into effect enduring solutions,” reads the memo. “Inherent in these improvements is the need for COs to not only