[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[March 14, 1994]
[Pages 453-454]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Nominations for the Department of the Navy
March 14, 1994

    I am pleased to announce that I have nominated Admiral Jeremy M. 
Boorda to succeed Admiral Frank A. Kelso II as Chief of Naval 
Operations.
    Admiral Boorda is currently serving as Commander in Chief, U.S. 
Naval Forces, Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe 
where he is responsible for coordinating and planning NATO military 
actions over Bosnia-Herzegovina and in the Mediterranean and Adriatic 
Seas.
    Admiral Boorda brings to the job of Chief of Naval Operations a keen 
appreciation of operational requirements in the post-cold-war world and 
an outstanding ability to work with our allies in complex and 
challenging circumstances. He has distinguished himself as one of the 
foremost military leaders serving in the armed services today, and his 
counsel and guidance on the many national security issues facing our 
Nation will be of great value.
    Admiral Boorda assumes the post of Chief of Naval Operations at an 
important time in the history of the United States Navy. I will depend 
on him to continue the progress that Admiral Kelso has made in 
restructuring the Navy to meet the new domestic and international 
security environments.
    I have also nominated Vice Admiral Leighton W. Smith, Jr., U.S. 
Navy, to relieve Admiral Boorda and be promoted to the rank of admiral. 
As the former Director for Operations, U.S. Eu-


[[Page 454]]

ropean Command, and the current Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans, 
Policy and Operations, Vice Admiral Smith possesses a thorough 
understanding of NATO structure and the requirements of the European 
theater of operations.