President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he is nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for the permanent position, giving the combat veteran the nod as concerns grow that sailors are being stretched to the limit during the Iran war.
Cao has filled the acting role since John Phelan departed unexpectedly without explanation in late April. Unlike Phelan, who lacked military service or a civilian leadership role in the force, Cao spent 25 years in the Navy as a special operations officer, serving alongside SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
