The Department of the Navy has expanded the responsibilities of the Under Secretary of the Navy, a move Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said is intended to unify the service’s most consequential tools for rebuilding warrior ethos and improving quality of service.
Phelan congratulated Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao on his swearing-in by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and welcomed him back to the department. “It is my pleasure to welcome Hung Cao to my Navy team; I look forward to having this experienced patriot lead on the highest priorities of the Secretary of War.” He also thanked Dr. Brett Seidle, who served over the past year as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition and performed the duties of the Under Secretary, noting Seidle’s intention to retire after 25 years of federal service following a transition to Cao. “I want to recognize with sincere gratitude, Dr. Brett Seidle, who over the past year has served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition and has performed the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy. His steady leadership in these roles has been vital to our Navy and our nation. Dr. Seidle has informed me of his intention to retire after twenty-five years of federal service following a smooth transition to Under Secretary Cao. The Department thanks him for his distinguished service and extends its best wishes for his future endeavors.”
The personnel changes come as Hegseth pressed senior leaders on standards during remarks at Marine Corps Base Quantico earlier this week: “…at the War Department first and foremost we must restore a ruthless, dispassionate and common sense application of standards…Standards must be uniform, gender neutral and high. If not, they’re not standards. They’re just suggestions, suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.”
“That is why I am putting my Under Secretary on the field to tackle the issues that affect the daily lives of Sailors and Marines,” said Secretary Phelan. “From his years in uniform and his record of leadership, he will cut through bureaucracy, drive real solutions and keep our people first.”
“Readiness starts at home and shows up on target,” Secretary Phelan said. “The Under Secretary’s new remit puts one quarterback and one playbook on the field to execute my gameplan for upgrading how we recruit, train, equip and take care of our people, so the Fleet stays the world’s premier, most lethal maritime force.”
Under the expanded portfolio, Cao will lead and synchronize across these lines of effort:
– Quality of service: Accelerate inspections and upgrades to family housing and on-base recreational, health care, and education facilities; tighten oversight of public-private ventures; and modernize nutrition ashore and afloat to align with readiness needs.
– Digital and business systems: As Chief Management Officer, partner with the Department of the Navy CIO to modernize unclassified IT and critical defense business systems, reduce downtime, simplify processes, and deliver tools faster to service members, civilians, and families.
– Audit: Oversee the Auditor General and push the Navy and Marine Corps toward clean audit opinions to improve trust, resourcing speed, and accountability.
– Recruiting: Review and raise recruiting standards, management, and organization to meet or exceed end strength, leveraging what the department describes as a surge of Americans motivated to serve by President Trump’s call to strengthen the armed forces. The department said standards will be high, uniform, and non-negotiable.
– Reserve reform: In coordination with manpower and reserve leadership, implement the secretary’s ongoing reserve reform plan to better integrate reserve components with the active force and translate reforms into measurable capability.
– Wellness and suicide prevention: Lead efforts to reduce mental health incidents, represent the department to interagency and Department of War bodies, and strengthen force performance.
– PCS, families, and education options: Represent the department on the PCS Joint Task Force to streamline orders, review on-base education, and support homeschooling options for families.
– Personnel policy: Coordinate implementation of policies for those affected by the rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate and update physical fitness standards—especially for combat units—to ensure clarity, fairness, and combat credibility.
– Guam as a power-projection platform: Serve as Senior Defense Official for Guam, assess infrastructure, and clear energy and material barriers to support Indo-Pacific operations.
– Standards and warfighter ethos: Implement departmental direction to eliminate divisive concepts and DEI initiatives, focusing time, talent, and funding on warfighting outcomes.
“This is about speed, standards and service,” Phelan added. “When Sailors and Marines know their families are supported, housing is right, chow is quality and systems work the first time, morale rises, performance sharpens and the force delivers.”
“Our mission to defend the American homeland and put America first, starts in the homes of Sailors and Marines who stand the watch every day,” he continued. “When the basics work the first time, ships sail more, aircraft fly further, crews rearm and recover faster, lethality rises, risk falls and American sea power wins.”
“One Team, One Mission, One Vision is the way we operate, the way we win, the way we lead,” Secretary Phelan said. “With this move I am giving my Under Secretary the responsibility and the tools to fix what slows us down and to fuel what makes us unbeatable.”
