The acting undersecretary of the Navy, Robert Martinage, has been forced to resign from the post after Navy Secterary Ray Mabus determined he was unable to “effectively perform his duties,” the Navy said Wednesday.
Martinage’s resignation is effectively immediately and he will be replaced in that role by Thomas Hicks, who is also the deputy undersecretary and deputy chief management officer, the Navy said. Martinage has been serving as acting undersecretary since Robert Work departed last year.
A Navy official said Martinage was forced out due to inappropriate conduct with a female subordinate. The public Navy statement said: “Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus asked for the resignation following a loss of confidence in Martinage’s abilities to effectively perform his duties.”
In addition to acting undersecretary, Martinage was the deputy undersecretary of the Navy for policy, plans, oversight and integration. He will be replaced in that capacity on an acting basis by Jodi Greene, the senior director for policy in the same office, the Navy said.
Martinage was holding the position pending the confirmation of Jo Ann Rooney to become undersecretary. Her nomination was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee but has been slowed in full Senate over her position that the prosecution of sexual assault cases should remain in the military’s chain of command.