Just Nominate Hung Cao Already
The Navy needs a leader. Now. It needs someone committed to fixing the unglamorous, boring issues preventing the service from accomplishing its core objectives. It needs someone with smart approaches and a firm grasp on how the Navy can rapidly adopt game-changing technology. Most importantly, it needs someone deeply invested in the Navy’s long-term health.
TL;DR
- The U.S. Navy faces critical issues: shipbuilding delays, a 20-year maintenance backlog, and a crumbling defense industrial base.
- China's growing navy poses a significant threat, with more warships and a larger industrial base than the U.S.
- Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao is proposed as the ideal permanent nominee to address these urgent problems.
- Cao advocates for "good enough" ship procurement options and a high-low mix of vessels, aligning with think tank recommendations.
- He aims to modernize outdated IT systems, expedite contracting for new defense entrants, and improve acquisition policies.
- Cao's personal commitment stems from wanting to ensure future service members, like his son, are not "under-equipped."
- Despite concerns about his "absurd machismo" and potential culture war focus, Cao's dedication and knowledge are deemed essential for immediate reform.
- The Federal Vacancies Reform Act limits acting secretaries to 210 days, hindering progress on reforms without a permanent nomination.