Hung Cao

Hung Cao
Official portrait, 2025
Acting United States Secretary of the Navy
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 22, 2026
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJohn C. Phelan
35th United States Under Secretary of the Navy
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 3, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byErik Raven
Personal details
BornCao Hùng
1971 (age 54–55)
Saigon, South Vietnam
PartyRepublican
SpouseApril Cao
Children5
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Naval Postgraduate School (MS)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service
1989–2021
RankCaptain
Battles/wars

Hung Cao (born 1971) is an American politician and former military officer who has served as the acting United States secretary of the navy since April 2026 and as the 35th United States under secretary of the navy from October 2025.[1] He ran as the Republican nominee for Virginia's 10th congressional district in 2022 and for the U.S. Senate in 2024.[2][3]

Early life and career

Cao as commanding officer of the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in 2015

Hung Cao (Vietnamese: Cao Hùng)[4] was born in 1971 in Saigon, South Vietnam.[5] His father, Quan Cao (Vietnamese: Cao Quản),[6] from Quảng Trị province, worked in South Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and was assistant to the deputy prime minister.[7] Quan Cao was an international student in the Philippines on a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation before earning a Ph.D. at Cornell University.[8] In 1975, at age four, Hung Cao immigrated to the United States with his family.[9]

Cao spent some of his childhood living in Niger, where his father served as an agricultural specialist for USAID. He returned to the U.S. at age 12 and was a student of the first graduating class of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia.[10]

Cao entered the U.S. Navy as a seaman recruit in 1989 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering. A specialist in ordnance disposal and salvage diving, he led the Navy team on the USNS Grasp that recovered the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette after their 1999 crash off Martha's Vineyard.[11] In 2008, he received a Master's of Science in Applied Physics at the Naval Postgraduate School.[12]

As an explosive ordinance disposal/diving specialist with the Navy, Cao and his family relocated multiple times for assignments. During his final major operational tour in the Navy, Cao lived near the Naval Support Activity Panama City (September 2013 to June 2016) while he served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center there.[13] He was then moved to a Pentagon assignment in Washington, D.C.

Cao spent over 30 years on active duty in the Navy, retiring as a captain in October 2021. His military career encompassed operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.[14][15] Cao earned the Command Ashore Badge, the Navy Diving Officer Badge and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warfare Officers Badge. Cao was a vice president of CACI, a U.S. government contractor that provides services to defense, intelligence, and homeland security agencies.[16]

In June of 2024, Cao and his wife April published a book Call Me an American: Refugee to Patriot: Lessons Learned for a Strong America[17] about his life. The book details his childhood, military service and his views on patriotism and citizenship.[18]

Congressional elections

2022 House bid

Cao was a candidate in the 2022 election for Virginia's 10th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.[19] He cited the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan as a reason he entered politics.[20] He was one of 11 candidates in the May 21 ranked-choice Republican primary. He won the election by about 2,800 votes over his nearest opponent, earning him a spot in the general election against incumbent Democrat Jennifer Wexton, who was seeking a third term.[21][19]

Cao was considered a strong candidate in a district with large populations of both Asian Americans and military families.[22] During a debate with Wexton, he expressed support for the deregulation of government across nearly all facets of life.[23] During the course of the campaign, Wexton sought to portray Hung Cao as "extreme" in comparison to the political demographics of the district, emphasizing his anti-abortion and pro-gun rights stances.[24] Cao lost the election to Wexton 53% to 47%.[25][26][27][24]

2024 Senate bid

In July 2023, Cao declared himself a candidate in the 2024 Virginia U.S. Senate race.[28][9] He received the endorsement of former president Donald Trump.[29][30] On June 18, 2024, Cao won the Republican primary by a wide margin, receiving 61.8% of the vote in a five-candidate race.[31]

During his Senate campaign in 2023, Cao said "witchcraft" had taken over Monterey, California and he did not want that to happen to Virginia.[32][33] In the same interview, Cao also said "I'm African American because I grew up in Africa, too," referring the years he spent in Niger as a child.[34]

On June 24, USA Today reported that Cao had claimed in campaign appearances that "I'm 100% disabled, you know, because just from being blown up in combat many times." But he had not received either the Purple Heart or the Navy's Combat Action Ribbon, both of which would normally have been awarded to someone injured by enemy action. Cao declined the newspaper's request for clarification about his injuries.[35]

He advanced to the November 5 general election, facing incumbent senator Tim Kaine.[36] Kaine defeated Cao 54% to 45%.[37][38]

Under Secretary of the Navy (2025–present)

On February 28, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Cao to be Under Secretary of the Navy, the navy's number two position, which requires Senate confirmation.[39][40][41] On October 1, 2025, Cao was confirmed by the Senate in a 52–45 vote (with three abstaining).[42] Every Republican senator, with the exception of Lisa Murkowski, voted to confirm him, while every Democratic senator opposed his nomination, with the exception of Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Brian Schatz, who were not present.[43]

On October 3, 2025, Cao was sworn in as Under Secretary of the Navy by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.[44]

Cao was reportedly often excluded from the decision-making process by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and was not permitted to represent him in meetings.[45]

Acting Secretary of the Navy (2026–present)

Hung visiting Vietnam in 2026

On April 22, 2026, Cao became the acting United States Secretary of the Navy after the departure of John Phelan.[46][47] On July 21, 2026, Cao awarded the Navy Unit Commendation to the crew of the USS Charlotte stating, “The most powerful weapons in our Navy are often the ones never seen—and never heard. This recognition reflects their professionalism, discipline, and unwavering dedication to the mission.”[48] The Charlotte was the navy ship that was credited with sinking the Iranian warship IRIS Dena.[49]

Personal life

Cao and his wife April Lakata Cao have two sons and three daughters, one adopted from Thailand and a pair of twins,[50] all homeschooled by April.[51] The Caos live in Purcellville, Virginia[50] and attend Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia.[52]

Military awards

Cao's decorations, awards, and badges include:[53]

Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Badge Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer
1st Row Defense Superior Service Medal Bronze Star Medal
2nd Row Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars
3rd Row Army Commendation Medal Navy Achievement Medal with three gold stars Joint Meritorious Unit Award
4th Row Navy Unit Commendation ribbon Coast Guard Unit Commendation with silver O Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon
5th Row Navy E Ribbon with two silver E's National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star Iraq Campaign Medal with three bronze stars
6th Row Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal
7th Row Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars Navy Overseas Service Ribbon
8th Row NATO Medal Navy Marksmanship Rifle Medal with silver E Navy Marksmanship Pistol Medal with silver E
Badge Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Insignia (United States Navy)

Electoral history

2022

2022 Virginia 10th district GOP firehouse primary[54]
Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Hung Cao 6,363 42% 6,379 42.1% 6,393 42.2% 6,471 42.8% 6,562 43.5% 6,672 44.4% 6,998 46.6% 7,238 48.7% 7,729 52.3%
Jeanine Lawson 4,373 28.9% 4,382 30% 4,390 29% 4,433 29.3% 4,503 29.8% 4,564 30.4% 4,693 31.2% 4,800 32.3% 5,000 33.8%
Brandon Michon 1,538 10.2% 1,551 10.2% 1,555 10.3% 1,588 10.5% 1,612 10.7% 1,614 10.7% 1,733 11.5% 1,854 12.5% 2,052 13.9%
Mike Clancy 719 4.7% 721 4.8% 724 4.8% 739 4.9% 764 5.1% 794 6.3% 876 5.8% 979 6.6% Eliminated
Caleb Max 621 4.1% 623 4.1% 627 4.1% 646 4.3% 678 4.5% 707 4.7% 727 4.8% Eliminated
John Henley 612 4% 614 4.1% 619 4.1% 628 4.2% 641 4.2% 676 4.5% Eliminated
Dave Beckwith 308 2% 308 2% 312 2.1% 328 2.2% 333 2.2% Eliminated
Theresa Ellis 259 1.7% 262 1.7% 276 1.8% 285 1.9% Eliminated
John Beatty 232 1.5% 232 1.5% 237 1.6% Eliminated
Jeff Mayhugh 64 0.4% 66 0.4% Eliminated
Brooke Taylor 56 0.4% Eliminated
2022 Virginia's 10th Congressional District election[55]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jennifer Wexton (incumbent) 157,405 53.15% −3.35%
Republican Hung Cao 138,163 46.65% +3.25%
Write-in 577 0.19% +.09%
Total votes 296,145
Democratic hold

2024

2024 Virginia Republican U.S. Senate Primary Results[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hung Cao 166,737 61.7%
Republican Scott Parkinson 29,623 11.0%
Republican Eddie Garcia 27,403 10.1%
Republican Chuck Smith 23,603 8.7%
Republican Jonathan Emord 22,909 8.5%
Total votes 270,275 100.0%
United States Senate election in Virginia, 2024[57]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tim Kaine (incumbent) 2,417,115 54.37% −2.63%
Republican Hung Cao 2,019,911 45.44% +4.43%
Write-in 8,509 0.19% +0.04%
Total votes 4,445,535 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Navy veteran Hung Cao enters GOP race to challenge Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine in 2024". AP News. July 18, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2024 November General Official Results". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  3. ↑ "2022 November General". Virginia Department of Election. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ Trà Mi (March 24, 2014). "Người trẻ gốc Việt chỉ huy đào tạo lực lượng đặc nhiệm và người nhái Hải quân Mỹ" [Young Vietnamese American leads training for US Navy special forces and divers]. Voice of America, Vietnamese Service.
  5. ↑ "Hung Cao (acting) (2026 - Present)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Trần Đăng Hồng (June 25, 2010). "Chuyên viên Việt Nam tại Phi Châu" [Vietnamese Specialists in Africa]. vietsciences.free.fr.
  7. ↑ "A Celebration of Life: Quan Cao". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ Zito, Salena (July 28, 2023). "Hung Cao's next call of duty". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Vozzella, Laura (May 26, 2024). "Five Virginia Republicans vie for a chance to challenge Sen. Tim Kaine". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ Cao, Hung (April 21, 2022). "The erosion of excellence at Thomas Jefferson High School". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Glebova, Diana (August 10, 2022). "How Congressional Candidate Hung Cao Salvaged John F. Kennedy Jr.'s Plane". National Review. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Senate2024-Cao / Chasing Freedom – Virginia". Chasing Freedom. February 28, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ Henley, Adele (April 22, 2026). "Hung Cao, ex-Panama City commander, appointed acting Navy Secretary". mypanhandle.com. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Captain Hung Cao". Young America's Foundation. 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Hung Cao – 2022". Guardian Fund. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ Valentine, Jesse (June 6, 2024). "Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Hung Cao says workplace diversity is 'Marxism'". American Journal News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ Call Me an American. June 11, 2024. ISBN 978-1-64572-099-7.
  18. ↑ Network, Whittier 360 News (April 23, 2026). "Breaking News: Refugee-Turned Special Operations Veteran Elevated to Acting Secretary of the Navy". Whittier 360 News Network. Retrieved July 17, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. 1 2 "Virginia GOP nominates Navy vet Hung Cao to challenge Rep. Jennifer Wexton". The Washington Times. May 23, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Hung Cao Fires Up Packed RNC Veterans Forum in VA-10". Republican National Committee. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Virginia's 10th Congressional District election, 2022 (May 21 Republican firehouse primary)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ Barakat, Matthew; Finley, Ben (November 9, 2022). "Trio of Virginia Democrats face tough reelection bids". The Roanoke Times. pp. A3. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Wexton vs Cao: What Thursday's debate means for Loudoun County". WUSA9. October 20, 2022.
  24. 1 2 Foretek, Jared (November 9, 2022). "Jennifer Wexton tops Cao to win 10th District race". INSIDENOVA.COM.
  25. ↑ "Virginia's 10th Congressional District election, 2022". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  26. ↑ Astor, Maggie (November 9, 2022). "Elected to House in 2018, Most Democratic Women Are Hanging On". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  27. ↑ "2022 November General Official Results". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  28. ↑ Olivo, Antonio (July 19, 2023). "Virginia Republican Hung Cao joins race to take on Sen. Tim Kaine". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Republican US Senate candidate in Virginia 'honored' to receive Trump endorsement". WTOP News. May 27, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  30. ↑ Dodd, Cormac (June 20, 2024). "Cao cruises to GOP primary win, setting stage for November matchup against Kaine". The Winchester Star. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  31. ↑ Vakil, Caroline (June 18, 2024). "Hung Cao wins Virginia Senate GOP primary". The Hill. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Witches aren't taking over Monterey, despite what a Senate candidate says". Monterey County NOW. August 22, 2024.
  33. ↑ American Bridge 21st Century [@American_Bridge] (August 20, 2024). "Post" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  34. ↑ "New acting US navy secretary Hung Cao once expressed fears that witches could take over Virginia". theguardian.com. April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  35. ↑ Beyer, Elizabeth; Vanden Brook, Tom (June 26, 2024). "Exclusive: VA Senate candidate says he was 'blown up' in combat. His record doesn't show that". USA Today. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  36. ↑ "United States Senate election in Virginia, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  37. ↑ Finley, Ben (November 5, 2024). "Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia fends off GOP challenger to win a 3rd term to the US Senate". AP News. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Virginia U.S. Senate Election Results". The New York Times. November 5, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  39. ↑ Pritchett, Elizabeth (February 28, 2025). "Trump appoints Paul Dabbar, Hung Cao to positions within administration". Fox News. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  40. ↑ Shane III, Leo (February 28, 2025). "Trump names special ops vet Hung Cao as Navy Under Secretary". Navy Times. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  41. ↑ Gould, Joe (February 28, 2025). "Trump taps hard-liner Hung Cao for Navy No. 2 role". Politico. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  42. ↑ "PN26-10 – Nomination of Hung Cao for Department of Defense, 119th Congress (2025–2026)". Congress.gov. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  43. ↑ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 119th Congress – 1st Session". Senate.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Secretary Phelan Welcomes Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and Launches Portfolio to Supercharge Warrior Ethos and Quality of Service Across the Navy and Marine Corps". United States Navy. October 3, 2025.
  45. ↑ Herb, Jeremy; Britzky, Haley (April 25, 2026). "Hung Cao said the military should be filled with 'alpha males and alpha females.' Now he's Trump's acting Navy secretary". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  46. ↑ Hooper, Craig (June 21, 2026). "Hung Cao, Acting Secretary Of The Navy, Is The SECNAV America Needs". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  47. ↑ Shelbourne, Mallory (April 22, 2026). "Navy Secretary John Phelan Leaving Trump Administration; Hung Cao Serving as Acting Secretary". United States Naval Institute. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  48. ↑ Ceder, Riley (July 21, 2026). "USS Charlotte crew that reportedly sank Iranian frigate awarded Navy Unit Commendation". Navy Times. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  49. ↑ Reels, Tucker (March 6, 2026). "As Iran war expands, Trump says he must have a role in choosing the country's next leader". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  50. 1 2 Cline, Nathaniel (May 22, 2022). "Retired veteran wins Republican nomination for 10th Congressional District race". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Call Me An American". Republic Book Publishers. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  52. ↑ Israel, Josh (August 1, 2023). "Virginia Republican Senate Candidate Hung Cao Touts Ties to anti-LGBTQ+ Pastor". The American Independent. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Hung Cao for Congress". hungcaoforcongress.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022.
  54. ↑ "GOP Ranked Choice Results in CD10". vpap.org. Virginia Public Access Project. May 22, 2022.
  55. ↑ "2022 November General". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Candidates & Referendums June 18, 2024 Primary Elections". Virginia Department of Elections. April 15, 2024.
  57. ↑ "2024 November General Official Results". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
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