Hung Cao Appointed Acting Navy Secretary
Hung Cao, a former refugee from Vietnam and veteran naval officer, has been named acting navy secretary following the abrupt departure of John Phelan. Cao previously served as undersecretary of the navy, where he focused on modernizing base infrastructure, improving quality of life for sailors and marines, and raising recruiting standards. He has also been a key figure in the administration's efforts to permit vaccine refusal and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in the military.
Cao, 55, fled Vietnam with his family at age four and lived in Niger while his father worked for USAID. He enlisted in the navy in 1989, graduated from the US Naval Academy, and served as a special operations officer. His career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and he led the team that recovered John F. Kennedy Jr.'s body off Martha's Vineyard. He retired as a captain in 2021.
Outspoken on Recruiting and Readiness
Cao has been sharply critical of military recruiting practices. During a 2024 Senate debate against Tim Kaine, he stated the military should recruit 'alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them, and ask for seconds.' At his confirmation hearing, he described an aircraft carrier as '99,000 tons of American diplomacy' but noted ship availability was about 60%, calling it 'horrid' readiness.
Naval Warfare Vision
Cao has called for rethinking naval warfare. He said the military is living each day like September 10, 2001, and must accelerate shipbuilding and improve technology to counter hypersonic missiles and other threats. 'We need to be ready for what happens tomorrow,' he stated in June 2024.
Political Career and Controversies
Cao ran twice for federal office as a Republican in Virginia, losing to Representative Jennifer Wexton in 2022 and Senator Tim Kaine in 2024. His campaign faced controversies, including comments about Monterey being 'taken over by witches' and a joke about being 'African American' because he lived in Africa. He also expressed support for a national abortion ban.
Cao holds a master's degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and completed fellowships at MIT and Harvard. His son graduates from the US Naval Academy this year.
