The White House submitted Hung Cao’s nomination to become secretary of the Navy to the Senate on September 14, 2026. Cao is currently serving as acting secretary of the Navy. If confirmed by the Senate, he will become the permanent secretary responsible for overseeing both the Navy and the Marine Corps.
According to U.S. media reports citing a White House announcement, the nominations also include candidates for under secretary and assistant secretary of the Navy. William “Bill” Toti was nominated as under secretary, while retired Lt. Gen. Richard Breckenridge was nominated as assistant secretary of the Navy.
Hung Cao Begins Senate Confirmation Process
Cao joined the Navy in 1989 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996. After serving as an officer specializing in explosive ordnance disposal and undersea operations, he retired from active duty as a colonel in 2021. He became the under secretary of the Navy in October 2025 after being confirmed by the Senate.
He has served as acting secretary of the Navy since April 2026. Once the Senate confirmation process is complete, the acting arrangement will end, and he will formally lead the department’s major priorities, including shipbuilding, force modernization and personnel policy.
However, because fewer than seven years have passed since Cao retired from military service, he will require a special congressional waiver under applicable law to become secretary of the Navy. That issue could become a major point of debate during the confirmation process.
Toti and Breckenridge Also Nominated for Senior Navy Posts
William Toti Nominee for Under Secretary of the Navy
Toti served 26 years on active duty in the Navy before spending 17 years in the defense industry. According to the U.S. Navy, he has been performing the duties of under secretary since May 1, 2026. He brings experience in both submarine command and defense-industry management.
If confirmed, Toti will support the secretary of the Navy and coordinate the department’s day-to-day operations, including its budget, organizational management, force development and efforts to strengthen the defense industrial base.
Richard Breckenridge Nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Breckenridge, a retired lieutenant general, built his career in submarine and fleet command. In June 2026, the Navy appointed him senior adviser for shipbuilding, assigning him to support ship construction and efforts to rebuild the U.S. naval industrial base.
The nomination is seen as an effort to bring Breckenridge’s experience in shipbuilding and acquisition directly into Navy policymaking. The U.S. Navy has made expanding shipbuilding capacity a central priority as it works to develop future capabilities, including crewed and uncrewed vessels, submarines and aircraft carriers.
Senate Hearings and Confirmation Votes Are Next
Presidential nominations submitted to the Senate first go through review by the relevant standing committee before advancing to a full Senate vote. The nomination for secretary of the Navy will generally be considered through a hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will examine the nominee’s background and policy agenda.
The committee may question the nominees about naval force expansion, shipbuilding schedules, budget management, service members’ welfare and the global security environment. If the committee reports the nominations to the full chamber, the entire Senate will decide whether to confirm them.
The publicly available information does not yet provide specific dates for the three candidates’ hearings or confirmation votes. For now, the key factors will be whether Congress considers the required waiver and when the Senate Armed Services Committee schedules its review.
Shipbuilding and Force Modernization Are Key Navy Priorities
The appointments could shape U.S. Navy policy on ship construction and force modernization. During his tenure as acting secretary, Cao has emphasized expanding shipbuilding capacity and improving service members’ conditions as major priorities. Breckenridge, meanwhile, has been responsible for ship construction and rebuilding the industrial base.
If Cao’s nomination as secretary of the Navy is confirmed, Cao, Toti and Breckenridge are expected to focus on reducing gaps in the department’s civilian leadership and turning the Navy and Marine Corps’ long-term force plans into concrete programs. Increasing shipbuilders’ production capacity and speeding up the execution of defense budgets are likely to be among the new leadership’s top priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Hung Cao?
Hung Cao is a former U.S. Navy officer who served as under secretary of the Navy from October 2025 and has been acting secretary of the Navy since April 2026.
When was Cao’s nomination for secretary of the Navy submitted to the Senate?
The White House submitted Cao’s nomination to the Senate on September 14, 2026.
What position was William Toti nominated for?
William Toti was nominated as under secretary of the Navy. He is expected to support Navy operations and force development based on his experience in the active-duty military and defense industry.
What role would Richard Breckenridge take on?
Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Breckenridge was nominated as assistant secretary of the Navy. He is expected to support Navy policymaking by drawing on his experience in submarine command and shipbuilding and acquisition.
How does the Senate confirmation process work?
The nominations undergo document review, hearings and a committee vote before being sent to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
