US EditionHung Cao said the military should be filled with ‘alpha males and alpha females.’ Now he’s Trump’s acting Navy secretary
Cao says he will push shipbuilding reforms after John Phelan was removed amid months of tensions over Navy priorities.
- President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted Navy Secretary John Phelan on Wednesday, appointing Hung Cao as acting Navy Secretary this week.
- Tensions between Phelan and Hegseth over shipbuilding reforms and direct communication with Trump drove the ouster; Phelan had isolated Cao from decision-making meetings.
- A decorated special operations officer, Cao campaigned on the "America First" vision during his 2024 Virginia Senate race, losing to Democrat Tim Kaine 54% to 45%.
- Cao pledged to Pentagon officials he will "loyally support whatever decision the president makes" while focusing on advancing shipbuilding priorities that contributed to Phelan's removal.
- The Navy plays a critical role stopping Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, though it remains unclear whether Cao will be nominated to permanently lead the Department.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Lists Shipbuilding as a Top Priority
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao vowed to boost shipbuilding efforts in a video statement addressing U.S. sailors and Marines on April 25. “I want to take this time to address you and tell you that my priorities,” Cao said in a 40-second recorded statement about 60 hours after being named to fill the role of Navy secretary. Cao said his first and foremost priority is to care for the sailors and Marines of the force. “We will take care of yo…
Hung Cao vows to accelerate Navy shipbuilding in first comments
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has vowed to ramp up shipbuilding in his first remarks since taking over for John Phelan, who was fired from the high-level role last week. In a roughly 40-second “message to the force” posted to X on Saturday, Cao outlined his three priorities for the Navy. “First and foremost is to take care of you. We will take care of your needs and make sure you can do the mission,” Cao said, directly addressing the sailors un…
As Undersecretary of the Navy, Hung Cao — retired captain of that force and former Republican candidate to the Senate by Virginia — should have a broad portfolio of responsibilities as second-ranking civilian in the service, including...
Hung Cao said the military should be filled with ‘alpha males and alpha females.’ Now he’s Trump’s acting Navy secretary
As undersecretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain and former Republican Senate candidate in Virginia, was supposed to have a broad portfolio as the service’s No. 2 civilian, which included personnel issues and safeguarding the Navy’s “warfighter ethos.”
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