William F. Mahan to perform duties of undersecretary of the Navy

The Navy has tapped Mr. Mahan to perform the duties of Under Secretary of the Navy while Mr. Toti awaits Senate confirmation, with Vice Admiral E. Seiko Okano set to assume the roles and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition during the transition, according to a department statement.

“Mr. Mahan is perfectly positioned to keep the critical initiatives within the Under Secretary’s office moving forward while Mr. Toti moves through the confirmation process,” said Cao. “We cannot afford to slow our momentum in restoring American shipbuilding.”

Mahan is currently performing the duties of the Navy’s top acquisition post and has been a key member of the department’s Shipbuilding Council, a body focused on advancing the service’s “Golden Fleet” priorities. The Under Secretary is the department’s second-ranking civilian, overseeing day-to-day operations and major portfolios that include acquisition, budget, and management.

Assigning Okano to cover the acquisition portfolio is intended to preserve continuity across programs that range from shipbuilding and submarines to aircraft and weapons systems while leadership responsibilities are temporarily realigned. Navy leaders have emphasized maintaining pace on shipbuilding and industrial-base initiatives as a central priority amid ongoing leadership transitions.