Hung Cao said the military should be filled with ‘alpha males and alpha females.’ Now he’s Trump’s acting Navy secretary
By Jeremy Herb
Published on April 25, 2026.
Former Navy captain and former Republican Senate candidate, Hung Cao, has been appointed as acting Navy secretary under President Donald Trump. Cao, who was often cut out of decision-making by his boss, Navy Secretary John Phelan, was isolated from Navy decision making and wasn't allowed to represent Phehan in official meetings that Phehlan didn't attend. This changed after Phelans was removed as Navy secretary following tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Cao is now on an acting basis and takes over as the Navy’s top civilian. His appointment comes as a crucial time for the service as it helps to prevent Iranian ships from traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
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