Former Navy Captain Hung Cao has been officially confirmed to serve as the Under Secretary of the Navy, the second-highest-ranking position in the department. The role was secured after Cao’s nomination by President Trump in February 2024, following his loss in the Virginia Senate race against Democratic Senator Tim Kaine.
Cao, a 25-year Navy veteran from Loudoun County, gained national attention as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2024. During his campaign, he criticized the Navy’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, stating, “When you’re using a drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want.” He advocated for a more traditional military culture, describing his vision as requiring “alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them, and ask for seconds.”
Cao also ran for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in 2022 but lost to Democrat Jennifer Wexton. His confirmation to the Under Secretary role came amid scrutiny of his past remarks and a separate nomination battle for Secretary of the Navy, which saw businessman John Phelan face Senate questioning from Kaine.
Cao’s military career includes involvement in high-profile salvage operations, notably the search for the wreckage of John F. Kennedy Jr. following his 1999 plane crash. Describing the mission, Cao stated, “We were able to recover the body of, really, America’s son, and lay him to rest.” He also highlighted his work in global salvage efforts, linking them to broader themes of national resilience.
Cao fled Vietnam before the fall of Saigon and served in combat zones including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. His confirmation marks a significant step in his political and military career, despite ongoing debates over his ideological positions.