Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao urged the fleet to accelerate operations Saturday, emphasizing the immediate dangers facing U.S. sailors and marines amid ongoing global deployments.
“Let’s get to work. We have Sailors and Marines in Harm’s way right now. All ahead flank!” Cao posted on X.
Cao, a retired Navy captain, delivered the message in a video address to the force just days after assuming the role of acting secretary on April 22, 2026.
He replaced John Phelan, who was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following months of tensions over the pace of shipbuilding and other priorities, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In his first message as acting secretary, Cao listed three immediate priorities: taking care of sailors and marines, advancing shipbuilding initiatives, and defending the homeland.
“Our mission has not changed, and we’re gonna keep driving on with the mission,” Cao said in the video. “I’m never above you, I’m never below you, I’m always beside you. Semper Fi and hoo yah.”
Cao thanked President Trump and Hegseth for the opportunity to serve and expressed gratitude to Phelan for his service.
A Navy veteran with more than 30 years of service, Cao immigrated to the United States from Vietnam in 1975 as a refugee. He served in special operations and explosive ordnance disposal during deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia before retiring as a captain in 2021.
He previously served as under secretary of the Navy after Senate confirmation in October 2025 and ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2024.
The leadership change comes as the U.S. military enforces a naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 13, 2026.
More than 15 warships are supporting operations in the Middle East, with U.S. forces intercepting and redirecting dozens of vessels attempting to enter or depart Iranian ports, according to Central Command statements.
The blockade targets ships linked to Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman while preserving freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for non-Iranian traffic.
Pentagon officials cited Phelan’s slow progress on President Trump’s shipbuilding priorities as a key factor in his dismissal.
Phelan had served as Navy secretary since March 2025 and was a major Trump campaign donor before his appointment.
Cao’s appointment was announced by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on April 22, with Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg expressing appreciation for Phelan’s service.
In recent days, Cao has stressed support for sailors and marines, including those previously discharged over COVID-19 vaccination policies, promising to correct records where appropriate.
The Navy is also pushing forward with major shipbuilding efforts as part of broader administration goals to expand the fleet.
Cao assumed the role at a time of heightened operational tempo for the service, with forces engaged in the Iran-related blockade and maintaining presence in other regions to deter potential threats from China and elsewhere.
His message Saturday underscored urgency as sailors and marines operate in contested waters.