It's been clear from his first days as secretary of defense that Pete Hegseth sees little place in the military's senior officer corps for Black people and women. Recently, he's only stiffened that impression. In recent weeks, he blocked the promotion of eight Navy captains to the rank of admiral, three of whom were women, two of whom were Black. Of the 22 Navy officers promoted to admiral since Hegseth took the Pentagon's helm, none have been women. Sen.