“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
As of early Tuesday, Hung Cao has been appointed as acting Secretary of the Navy. This follows Phelan’s abrupt exit from his position.
Cao previously served as the Under Secretary of the Navy. He is a retired U.S. Navy captain with 25 years of service. His experience includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
Cao holds a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School. He has also been involved in modernization efforts for the Navy’s IT systems.
In an earlier statement, Cao emphasized, “They deserve the best training and weapons available. Their intrinsic desire to solve problems using technology should not be stifled by red tape.” This reflects his commitment to enhancing operational efficiency within the Navy.
However, his appointment comes amid a series of leadership changes in the Pentagon during Trump’s administration. Phelan was known as a major donor to Trump’s campaign before his appointment.
Cao has faced criticism for his views on military policies, particularly regarding COVID-19 vaccine mandates and diversity initiatives within the armed forces. He stated, “What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds.” Such remarks have stirred discussions about his leadership style.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further changes within the Pentagon or implications for military policy under Cao’s leadership.
