Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao

They say an EOD tech dies twice— the first when their heart stops, the second when their name is no longer spoken. Today, at the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base, we spoke every name. We honor warriors who walked the long, lonely path toward danger so others could live. They didn’t do it for glory, fame, or medals. They did it because the mission demanded it—and because lives depended on it. We remember how they lived. We carry them forward. They will never be forgotten. Hooyah EOD.

USS New Orleans (LPD 18) sails in the Arabian Sea during the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, April 28. Over the past 20 days, 48 vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance with the blockade.

"Initial Success or Total Failure" is more than the EOD motto. It reflects the attitude we must bring to every task. In the business of national defense - failure is never an option. I am forever grateful for the values that were instilled in me as a Navy EOD officer.

For over a century, from the Great White Fleet to today’s Golden Fleet, American and Australian Sailors have served shoulder-to-shoulder. My meeting with VADM Mark Hammond, Chief of Australian Navy, reinforced that mateship. Through AUKUS, we are doing more than delivering submarines—we are building a century of interchangeability and a decisive strategic advantage.

The modern battlefield demands a fundamental shift in how we build and deploy our forces. To maintain maritime dominance, the @USNavy and @USMC are aggressively pursuing a hi-lo mix of capabilities. Drones and autonomous systems are critical force multipliers—lethal, adaptive and built for speed and scale.

Established on April 30, 1798, the Department of the Navy was built on a legacy of warfighting excellence. Across air, land, sea, and cyber, our @USNavy Sailors and @USMC Marines continue to deliver decisive advantage. Like the patriots before us, we stand ready to defend the homeland—fight and win wherever our nation calls.

I work for you— Not above. Not below. Beside you. Take care of @USMC Marines and @USNavy Sailors. Build ships. Defend the nation. That’s my promise.

The time is now. To our industry partners—what you develop right now will save lives, America’s sons and daughters. Thank you for answering the call. Let’s move forward together to ensure our @USMC-@USNavy team has what it needs to fight and win today and tomorrow.

We are a maritime nation, bordering on both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Our commerce depends on safe and secure sea lanes of communication. President Trump’s commission to our military is simple: to achieve Peace Through Strength. The USS Idaho joins the fleet ready to answer the call to action, in any ocean, at any time.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao: Message to the Force