Jane Edwards
President Donald Trump has announced plans to nominate Kenneth Braithwaite, U.S. ambassador to Norway and a retired Navy Reserve rear admiral, to serve as the next secretary of the Navy, USNI News reported Sunday.
If confirmed, Braithwaite will succeed Richard Spencer, a 2019 Wash100 award winner. Spencer was removed from his post amid issues surrounding the handling of a case of a Navy SEAL.
Fox News reported that Braithwaite’s military career included time as a naval aviator, chief of public affairs for Naval Base Philadelphia and vice chief of information and head of Naval Reserve public affairs. He also held executive roles at Ascension Health and ARCO.
Thomas Modly, undersecretary of the Navy, has assumed the role of acting secretary of the service branch. He and Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, is set to meet Defense Secretary and 2019 Wash100 award recipient Mark Esper on Monday, Nov. 25, to discuss the plans for the service.
