Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Advocates for 'Alpha' Troops and Fleet Modernization
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has outlined his vision for the U.S. Navy, emphasizing the need for 'alpha males and alpha females' in the military. Speaking at the Modern Day Marine exposition in Washington, Cao discussed the Golden Fleet initiative, which aims to reform the Navy's acquisition process to include a mix of high and low-cost ships. This strategy involves integrating more expensive, capable ships with less costly ones, such as frigates, battleships, and unmanned systems. Cao, who recently assumed his role after the dismissal of former Navy Secretary John Phelan by the Trump administration, also highlighted the Navy's budgetary constraints. The fiscal 2026 defense budget allocates $838.7 billion for discretionary spending, with a proposed $1.5 trillion for fiscal 2027. The Navy plans to focus on improving ships, aircraft, and equipment within these financial limits, including the development of the sixth-generation F/A-XX aircraft and the Navy Medium Landing Ship program. 
