Modly steps down as acting US Navy Secretary
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly has submitted his resignation to US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that Esper accepted the resignation on 7 April and that Modly will be replaced by current Army Undersecretary Jim McPherson.
It comes after Modly removed the captain, Brett Crozier, from command of the coronavirus-hit USS Theodore Roosevelt for writing a letter, raising concerns about the safety of the sailors on board, which was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Capt Crozier’s sacking led to a backlash from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier’s 4,000-strong crew.
In a statement, Esper noted that Modly ‘resigned on his own accord, putting the Navy and the Sailors above self so that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the Navy as an institution, can move forward’.
McPherson is a retired admiral with 26 years of service in the USN. He is expected to remain as Acting Secretary of the Navy until a permanent replacement is found.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)]()
Amazon Project Kuiper emphasises user-friendly solutions for multi-domain connectivity (Studio)
At DSEI 2025, Shephard's Alix Valenti spoke to Project Kuiper's Rich Pang about the importance of enabling seamless communication between allied forces such as NATO members in challenging operational environments.
-
![Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft]()
Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft
The procurement and acceleration production plans – some of which still await approval – across the air and land domains will aim to strengthen the operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces.
-
![US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities]()
US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities
This shift is planned to accelerate the procurement and fielding of capabilities. As part of this strategy, the US also intends modernise its regulations in an attempt to change its bureaucratic and risk-averse culture.
