Until this spring, most Americans likely didn’t know the name Hung Cao, who rapidly transitioned from a regional Virginia political figure into a prominent national official. He immigrated to the United States as a child in 1975, and later entered the United States Navy as a Seaman Recruit in 1989.
Cao was later commissioned as a Special Operations Officer after attending the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis. Cao attended the service academy through the specialized fleet application pathway. He went on to serve as a special operations and explosive ordnance disposal officer and, in 2024, ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in Virginia against incumbent Tim Kaine.
In April 2026, Cao became Acting Secretary of the United States Navy after the sudden ouster of John Phelan from the post.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump formally announced his plan to nominate Cao to serve as the permanent Secretary of the Navy, further putting the retired naval officer in the national spotlight. If confirmed by the United States Senate, Cao would be the 80th Secretary of the Navy.
However, he will need a special congressional waiver, as federal law requires military officers to be retired for at least seven years before taking top civilian Pentagon jobs, and Cao retired as a U.S. Navy captain in 2021.
Notable Past Secretaries: Benjamin Stoddert to John F. Lehman
Fewer Americans likely know Benjamin Stoddert than even Cao. Still, every United States Naval Academy Midshipman likely learns at least a little about the man who was the first Secretary of the Navy. Stoddert wasn’t a sailor, however; he served as a Pennsylvania cavalry officer during the American Revolutionary War until he was seriously wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, then became secretary to the Continental Board of War.
May 1798, President John Adams appointed Stoddert to oversee the newly established Department of the Navy, becoming the first civilian head of the service. Soon after Stoddert took on the role, which was a Cabinet position and remained so until 1949, the United States was in an undeclared naval war with France. During his time as Secretary of the Navy, Stoddert oversaw the construction of six frigates for the U.S. Navy, including the museum ship USS Constitution. In addition, six navy yards were established, from which the United States would build warships for years to come.
Of the remaining 78 men – to date, there have been no women who have held the post – a few others are noteworthy. These include George Bancroft, who served under President James K. Polk from 1845 to1846, and is best known for founding the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
Gideon Wells served as the U.S. Navy’s top civilian chief from 1861 to 1869 under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Nicknamed Lincoln’s “Neptune,” Wells expanded the Navy tenfold and helped execute the Civil War blockade of the South. During his tenure, the U.S. Navy also transitioned from wooden ships to ironclads, marking one of the service’s largest upgrades.
Under Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, who held the position under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921, the United States again expanded rapidly. Daniels also abolished alcohol on ships and opened roles for women. A young Franklin D. Roosevelt served as his assistant.
John F. Lehman served as Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan and championed the ambitious “600-ship Navy” to counter Soviet power. The United States Navy never reached that number, but it did reactivate the four Iowa-class battleships for nearly a decade.
DOESN’T Need to Be Native Born
Although Cao could be the first Vietnamese-born Secretary of the Navy, he won’t be the first immigrant or even refugee to hold the post. Carlos Del Toro, who served as the 78th Secretary of the Navy from 2021 to 2025 during the Biden administration, was born in Havana, Cuba, and immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1962. Del Toro also graduated from the United States Naval Academy, where he was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer and served a 26-year career in the U.S. Navy.
Edward Hidalgo, the 61st Secretary of the Navy from 1979-1981 under President Jimmy Carter, was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and later moved with his family to the United States.
The Core Responsibilities
As the top civilian, the Secretary of the Navy handles the business and administrative side of the naval forces rather than directing combat operations. This includes managing the department’s money, resources, and annual budget, as well as creating rules and programs that align with national security goals.
The SECNAV also oversees the recruiting, training, equipping, and organizing of sailors and Marines, and manages naval bases, ship construction, repairs, and equipment supply. The secretary also acts as the service’s liaison to Congress, reporting to and making recommendations to lawmakers.
Although the president appoints the secretary, and the United States Senate approves and confirms the person, the SECNAV reports directly to the Secretary of War.
Cao will not be the only individual who will face Senate lawmakers, as Daniel P. Driscoll resigned as Secretary of the Army earlier this month. President Trump has not yet nominated a replacement, and Adam Telle is now serving as Acting Secretary of the Army.
