Perry Seeking New Navy Chief

Defense Secretary William Perry said Wednesday he is looking for “someone who can bring the Navy together” as successor to Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda as Navy chief.

Perry said he would make his recommendation to President Clinton by the end of the week. He did not say who the front runners were.

Among those believed to be in the running is Adm. Jay L. Johnson, who has been the acting Navy chief since Boorda’s death. Others include Adm. Leighton Smith Jr., head of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia; Adm. Joseph Prueher, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command; and Vice Adm. Joseph Lopez, one of the deputy chiefs of naval operations.