WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Navy's top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, is leaving his job.
In a statement posted to social media, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately."
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Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will become acting secretary of the Navy, Parnell said.
The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the Navy's annual conference in Washington, D.C., and spoke with reporters on his ongoing agenda.