The Senate confirmed Kenneth Braithwaite as the next Secretary of the Navy via voice vote May 21.
Braithwaite, who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Norway, succeeds Thomas Modly, who resigned in April amid criticism of his removal of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Commander Capt. Brett Crozier (Defense Daily, April 8). Army Undersecretary James McPherson has been serving as acting Navy secretary in the interim.
Braithwaite, a Navy veteran, told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing in early May that he supports building a 355-ship Navy, investing in attack submarines and considering another destroyer block-buy (Defense Daily, May 7). Braithwaite is a 27-year veteran of the Navy and Navy Reserve. He began his career as an aviator before switching to public affairs. He rose to rear admiral in the reserves and served as the Navy’s Vice Chief of Information before leaving the service.