Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Saturday that shipbuilding is a priority — his first public remarks since the ouster of his predecessor and former boss, John C. Phelan, last week.
Mr. Cao, a retired Navy captain and explosive ordnance disposal officer, was Navy under secretary — the No. 2 position in the service — when Mr. Phelan was dismissed in the Pentagon’s latest high-level shakeup.
A Naval Academy graduate, Mr. Cao said his most critical mission as Navy secretary is taking care of sailors, Marines and their families.
“We will take care of your needs and make sure you can do the mission,” he posted on X. “I’m never above you, I’m never below you. I’m always beside you.”
Mr. Cao said the second priority is ramping up the Navy’s fleet, a goal prized by the Trump administration. The White House has launched a “Make Shipbuilding Great Again” effort to counter China’s rapidly expanding military and commercial fleet.
“We’re going to build ships,” Mr. Cao said. “We need more platforms in order to defend the country.”
Mr. Phelan was under White House pressure for failing to meet deadlines for ship production, including commissioning a new class of battleships by 2028.
Mr. Cao said the third priority of his tenure would be defending the homeland against any threats.
“Our mission has not changed, and we’re going to keep driving on,” he said.
