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. Cao was nominated by President Trump in February 2024 after losing a Senate race against Senator Tim Kaine.

Cao, a Navy captain from Loudoun County with 25 years of service, 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 what he described as “alpha males and alpha females” to lead military efforts.

Cao also ran for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in 2022 but lost to Democrat Jennifer Wexton. His confirmation comes after a contentious Senate hearing, during which his former election opponent, Senator Kaine, questioned his qualifications.

Notably, Cao was part of the search and rescue mission to recover the body of John F. Kennedy Jr., who died in a plane crash in 1999. He described the operation as a pivotal moment, stating, “We were able to recover the body of, really, America’s son, and lay him to rest.” Cao emphasized his role in salvaging military equipment globally, including planes and ships, and linked such efforts to restoring the American spirit.

Cao escaped Vietnam before the fall of Saigon and served in combat zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia alongside Special Forces and SEAL Teams. His career has been marked by a focus on maritime salvage operations, which he framed as essential to national resilience.