Breaking News: Refugee-Turned Special Operations Veteran Elevated to Acting Secretary of the Navy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a major leadership shift at the Pentagon, President Donald Trump has elevated Hung Cao to serve as Acting Secretary of the Navy, following the removal of former Secretary John Phelan.

Cao, who was born in Vietnam and came to the United States as a refugee in 1975, now becomes the top civilian leader overseeing both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in an acting capacity. His elevation places a refugee at the head of one of the most powerful military branches in the world, marking a rare moment in U.S. defense leadership.

Prior to this elevation, Cao served as Under Secretary of the Navy, the second-highest civilian position within the department. He is a retired Navy captain with a background in Special Operations, including service in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and deep-sea diving units within U.S. Naval Special Warfare. His deployments included combat and operational missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

Beyond combat roles, Cao held significant strategic and technical assignments, including work at the Pentagon helping manage the Navy’s approximately $140 billion budget. He also worked with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Academically, he holds a master’s degree in physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and has completed fellowships at MIT and Harvard.

Cao’s elevation also comes amid ongoing national debates over immigration and refugee policy. The Trump administration has emphasized stricter enforcement measures and tighter limits on asylum and refugee admissions. Against that backdrop, the rise of a refugee to one of the highest civilian leadership roles in the U.S. military introduces a notable point of contrast that is likely to draw attention across the political spectrum.

In addition to his military and government service, Cao previously ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. He and his wife, April, have five children and reside in Purcellville, Virginia, where they have been active in their local community.

While Cao’s role is currently in an acting capacity, his background and appointment have already drawn national attention. His personal story—from refugee to Special Operations officer to senior defense leadership—reflects a trajectory that remains uncommon in the upper ranks of the U.S. military establishment. Cao has also written about his life and beliefs. In 2024, he co-authored Call Me an American: Refugee to Patriot: Lessons Learned for a Strong America with his wife, April Lakata Cao. The book reflects on his journey from fleeing Vietnam to serving in the U.S. military and outlines his views on patriotism, national service, and the responsibilities of citizenship.

The Department of the Navy, one of the largest and most complex branches of the U.S. military, plays a central role in global operations, including maintaining freedom of navigation and responding to international crises.

Further developments are expected as the administration determines whether to nominate a permanent Secretary of the Navy in the coming weeks.

Whittier 360 News Network will continue to monitor this developing story.