Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield is the latest in a string of top officers to be dismissed by President Donald Trump's administration, part of a major shakeup that also includes plans to slash the Pentagon's civilian workforce.

Hegseth removed Chatfield "from her position as US representative to NATO's military committee due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

Chatfield is a helicopter pilot by training who had held the NATO post since 2023.

Her dismissal comes after Trump abruptly fired the top US military officer, general Charles "CQ" Brown, without explanation in February, less than two years into his four-year term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hegseth also announced the removal of admiral Lisa Franchetti -- the first woman to lead the Navy -- as well as the vice chief of staff of the Air Force and three top military lawyers.

And in January, admiral Linda Fagan -- the first woman to lead one of the six US military services -- was removed as the head of the Coast Guard, with an official citing alleged "leadership deficiencies."