U.S. President Donald Trump said that he would nominate acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to permanently lead the Navy.
Trump said he could think of “no one better” for the position of the Navy’s top civilian leader.
“We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, urging the Senate to confirm Cao as quickly as possible.
The Pentagon announced in April that Cao’s predecessor, John Phelan, was leaving the position but did not provide a reason for his sudden departure.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has overseen changes involving several top military officials.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation Monday following reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Cao was born in Vietnam and moved to the United States as a refugee in 1975.
He retired from the Navy five years ago.
In 2022, Cao unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for a seat in the U.S. Congress representing Virginia.
