Defense Secretary Ash Carter yesterday nominated Adm. John Richardson to be the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Richardson currently serves as Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. “Admiral John Richardson was a clear choice,” Carter said. “He’s a bold thinker, a tremendous leader, and the go-to officer for many of the Navy’s tough issues in recent years, from preparing for the Ohio-class replacement ballistic missile submarine to handling problems of integrity and ethics. He is in high demand. I had to wrestle him away from the secretary of energy. But as anyone who has worked with John will tell you, he’s worth the fight.”? Pending confirmation by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Richardson would succeed Adm. Jonathan Greenert, who has served since September 2011 in his current post.