Trump Selects New Navy Secretary

President Donald Trump is moving to put a decorated military veteran permanently in charge of the U.S. Navy, announcing Tuesday that he plans to nominate retired Navy Capt. Hung Cao as secretary of the Navy.

The selection would elevate Cao from acting secretary to the Navy Department’s top civilian position, placing a longtime veteran with extensive military experience at the helm of both the Navy and Marine Corps.

Trump announced his decision on Truth Social, offering strong praise for Cao’s record and calling on the Senate to move quickly on his confirmation.

Trump Wants Hung Cao Leading the Navy

Trump described Cao as a proven “warrior” and argued that America needs patriotic, experienced leadership overseeing its naval forces.

The president said Cao is capable of helping keep the Navy and Marine Corps among the most powerful and effective fighting forces in the world.

Trump also urged senators to confirm Cao as soon as possible, pointing to the work he has already performed while serving as acting Navy secretary.

For Trump, the nomination represents another opportunity to put a military veteran with extensive operational experience into a major national security position.

Cao Already Has Experience Running the Navy Department

Cao would not be walking into an unfamiliar job.

He has served as acting secretary of the Navy since April, giving him several months of experience leading the department before Trump selected him for the permanent position.

Cao previously served as undersecretary of the Navy, the department’s second-ranking civilian post.

The Senate confirmed him for that position in October 2025 by a 52-45 vote.

His previous confirmation means senators have already examined his qualifications for senior Navy leadership, although his nomination for secretary will require a new confirmation process.

A Decorated Veteran With Decades of Service

Unlike many political appointees who arrive at the Pentagon primarily from civilian careers, Cao brings decades of military experience.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and went on to serve as a Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer.

During his military career, Cao deployed overseas in support of American operations, including assignments connected to Iraq and Afghanistan.

He ultimately retired from the Navy at the rank of captain after a lengthy career in uniform.

That background could become an important part of Cao’s confirmation case as lawmakers examine who should oversee America’s naval forces at a time of significant international security challenges.

From Refugee to Navy Captain

Cao’s personal history also distinguishes him from many Washington officials.

Born in Saigon in 1971, Cao came to the United States with his family as a refugee in 1975 following the collapse of South Vietnam.

He grew up in Northern Virginia before beginning a career that would eventually take him to the U.S. Naval Academy and into decades of military service.

Cao later earned a master’s degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School.

His journey from a refugee fleeing communist Vietnam to a senior leader in the U.S. military has become one of the defining elements of his public biography.

Cao Entered Republican Politics After His Military Career

Following his military service, Cao became involved in Republican politics in Virginia.

He ran for the U.S. House in 2022 but was unsuccessful.

Cao returned to the campaign trail in 2024 when he challenged Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine for one of Virginia’s U.S. Senate seats.

Trump endorsed Cao during the Republican primary that year, helping elevate his profile among conservatives nationally.

Although Cao ultimately lost the Senate race, he later joined the Trump administration and moved into senior leadership at the Department of the Navy.

Shipbuilding Could Be a Major Priority

Cao’s nomination comes as America’s ability to build, maintain and modernize its naval fleet remains an important national security issue.

During his time as acting secretary, Cao has placed an emphasis on modernization and shipbuilding while also focusing on emerging technologies and strengthening the defense industrial base.

Those issues have become increasingly important as the United States seeks to maintain a powerful naval presence while responding to security challenges around the globe.

The Navy secretary has enormous responsibilities beyond ships alone. The position oversees major personnel, procurement, budgeting, readiness and modernization decisions affecting both the Navy and Marine Corps.

That means Cao, if confirmed, would help shape how billions of taxpayer dollars are spent while influencing America’s military preparedness for years to come.

Senate Will Decide Cao’s Nomination

Cao cannot permanently take over the position without Senate approval.

His nomination will go through the confirmation process, giving senators an opportunity to examine his record, leadership priorities and plans for the future of the Navy and Marine Corps.

Trump has already made clear that he wants lawmakers to move quickly.

For conservatives who have argued that America’s military needs greater emphasis on combat readiness, modernization and experienced leadership, Cao’s extensive military résumé is likely to become a central part of the debate surrounding his nomination.

His selection also gives Trump a nominee with an unusual American story: a refugee who escaped communist Vietnam as a child, graduated from the Naval Academy, spent decades serving his adopted country and eventually rose to one of the highest civilian leadership positions in the U.S. military.

If the Senate confirms him, Cao will officially become secretary of the Navy and take responsibility for helping guide the Navy and Marine Corps through an increasingly challenging period for American national security.