United States Under Secretary of the Navy

The United States under secretary of the navy is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the United States Department of the Navy.

Hung Cao is the 35th and current under secretary of the Navy, in position since October 2025.

 Duties 
The main duties of the under secretary are:

 Help run the Navy and Marine Corps – Assists the Secretary of the Navy in managing both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps.
 Manages daily operations – Oversees the day-to-day business, making sure the Navy and Marine Corps run smoothly.
 Handle budgets and resources – Helps plan and manage the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ spending, including ships, aircraft, and bases.
 Develop policies – Helps create and carry out policies on training, readiness, and personnel.
 Supervise major programs – Oversees big projects like shipbuilding, research, and new technology development.
 Work with Congress – Helps explain Navy and Marine Corps needs to Congress and supports budget requests.
 Act as Secretary when needed – Serves as the Acting Secretary of the Navy if the Secretary is absent or the position is vacant.
 Coordinate with other defense leaders – Works with other Department of Defense and government officials on national defense matters.
 Focuses on readiness and modernization: Works on improving training, equipment, and technology to keep forces ready for action.
 Focus on efficiency – Looks for ways to save money, reduce waste, and improve performance in Navy and Marine Corps operations.

 List of under secretaries 
No.PortraitNameAssumed officeLeft officePresident appointed bySecretary served under173x73pxJames V. ForrestalAugust 22, 1940May 16, 1944Franklin D. RooseveltFrank Knox275x75pxRalph A. BardJune 24, 1944June 30, 1945James Forrestal360x60pxArtemus GatesJuly 3, 1945December 31, 1945Harry S. Truman472x72pxJohn L. SullivanJune 17, 1946September 18, 1947560x60pxW. John KenneySeptember 19, 1947September 24, 1949John L. Sullivan677x77pxDan A. KimballMay 25, 1949July 31, 1951Francis P. Matthews760x60pxFrancis P. WhitehairAugust 7, 1951January 29, 1953Dan A. Kimball869x69pxCharles S. ThomasFebruary 9, 1953August 5, 1953Dwight D. EisenhowerRobert B. Anderson974x74pxThomas S. Gates Jr.October 7, 1953April 1, 1957Robert B. Anderson
Charles Thomas1074x74pxWilliam B. FrankeApril 17, 1957June 7, 1959Thomas S. Gates Jr.1179x79pxFred A. BantzJune 8, 1959January 20, 1961William B. Franke1260x60pxPaul B. FayFebruary 16, 1961January 15, 1965John F. KennedyJohn Connally
Fred Korth
Paul Nitze1375x75pxKenneth E. BeLieuFebruary 26, 1965July 1, 1965Lyndon B. JohnsonPaul Nitze1460x60pxRobert H. B. BaldwinJuly 2, 1965July 31, 19671560x60pxCharles F. BairdAugust 1, 1967January 20, 1969Paul Robert Ignatius1680x80pxJohn WarnerFebruary 11, 1969May 4, 1972Richard NixonJohn Chafee1760x60pxFrank P. SandersMay 5, 1972June 29, 1973John Warner1875x75pxJ. William MiddendorfAugust 3, 1973June 20, 19741960x60pxDavid S. PotterAugust 28, 1974April 1, 1976Gerald FordJ. William Middendorf2060x60pxDavid R. MacdonaldSeptember 14, 1976February 4, 19772176x76pxR. James Woolsey Jr.March 9, 1977December 7, 1979Jimmy CarterW. Graham Claytor Jr.2260x60pxRobert J. MurrayFebruary 7, 1980September 29, 1981Edward Hidalgo
John Lehman2360x60pxJames F. GoodrichSeptember 29, 1981August 6, 1987Ronald ReaganJohn Lehman2475x75pxHenry L. Garrett IIIAugust 6, 1987May 15, 1989Jim Webb
William L. Ball2575x75pxJ. Daniel HowardAugust 7, 1989January 20, 1993George H. W. BushHenry L. Garrett III
Sean O'Keefe2675x75pxRichard J. DanzigNovember 29, 1993May 30, 1997Bill ClintonJohn Howard Dalton2775x75pxJerry MacArthur HultinNovember 13, 1997July 14, 2000John Howard Dalton
Richard Danzig2875x75pxRobert B. Pirie Jr.October 12, 2000June 6, 2001Richard Danzig2975x75pxSusan M. LivingstoneJuly 26, 2001February 28, 2003George W. BushGordon R. England3075x75pxDionel M. AvilesOctober 8, 2004May 19, 2009Gordon R. England
Donald C. Winter3184x84pxRobert O. WorkMay 19, 2009March 22, 2013Barack ObamaRay Mabus–60x60pxRobert C. Martinage (acting)March 22, 2013January 15, 2014–75x75pxThomas W. Hicks (acting)January 15, 2014March 17, 20163275x75pxJanine A. DavidsonMarch 17, 2016January 20, 2017–75x75pxThomas W. Hicks (acting)January 20, 2017February 17, 2017Donald TrumpSean Stackley (acting)–84x84pxThomas P. Dee (acting)February 17, 2017December 4, 2017Richard V. Spencer3382x82pxThomas B. ModlyDecember 4, 2017April 7, 2020–84x84pxGregory J. Slavonic (acting)April 24, 2020January 20, 2021Kenneth J. Braithwaite–81x81pxJames F. Geurts (acting)February 4, 2021August 24, 2021Joe BidenThomas Harker (acting)–75x75pxMeredith A. Berger
(Performing the Duties of)August 25, 2021April 13, 2022Carlos Del Toro3484x84pxErik RavenApril 13, 2022August 2024–75x75pxThomas Mancinelli (acting)August 20, 2024January 20, 2025–75x75pxVictor Minella (acting)January 22, 2025April 16, 2025Donald TrumpTerence G. Emmert (acting)
John Phelan–75x75pxBrett A. Seidle (acting)April 16, 2025October 3, 2025John Phelan3575x75pxHung CaoOctober 3, 2025https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/hung-cao-confirmed-under-secretary-navy/Incumbent

 References 
Category:United States Navy
Category:United States Department of Defense officials