An Accidental Navy Chief Steers His Service Through a Storm

Adm. Michael M. Gilday landed the top job in the Navy’s uniformed ranks largely by accident.

The admiral, who took a bold step last week — recommending that the captain of a virus-stricken aircraft carrier be restored to command after he was removed by the service’s senior civilian — was plucked from the military’s Joint Staff last July to take over a scandal-plagued sea service, leapfrogging several more senior four-star officers.