Executive Mosaic is pleased to announce that Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Navy Summit on August 27. One of the Department of War’s most influential leaders and a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient, Cao will share insights on naval modernization, readiness initiatives, acquisition reform and the future of maritime dominance amid growing global security challenges.
The summit provides is a rare opportunity for GovCons to hear directly from the Navy’s highest-ranking leader, who will provide unique insights into the service’s top priorities and vision for the future fleet.
The 2026 Navy Summit will bring together top Navy officials, defense policymakers and industry leaders for in-depth conversations on the future of maritime power and mission execution. Alongside Cao’s keynote, the event will feature Commander of Naval Information Forces Vice Adm. Michael Vernazza, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources VADM Brad Skillman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Robotic Autonomous Systems CAPT Jeremiah Daley and Director of Emerging Technologies, Navy Chief Information Officer Bryan Lopez, among other esteemed guest speakers.
Sessions will examine the role of emerging technologies in strengthening fleet capabilities, with topics ranging from artificial intelligence and unmanned systems to cybersecurity, modernization and next-generation warfighting platforms. Attendees will gain perspective on the Navy’s strategic priorities, operational challenges and modernization goals, while engaging with influential stakeholders, identifying areas of future demand and building relationships across the defense and GovCon communities. Register today to ensure your organization has a voice in these influential conversations.
Who Is Hung Cao?
Cao was named acting secretary of the Navy in April of 2026 following the departure of John Phelan. In his role, Cao oversees nearly one million sailors, Marines and civilian personnel. He previously served as under secretary of the Navy, appointed by President Trump in 2025.
Cao brings a unique personal and professional journey to the Department of the Navy’s senior leadership ranks. A Vietnamese refugee who arrived in Guam in 1975, he later settled in the United States and began a distinguished military career that spanned more than 25 years.
After entering the Navy as a seaman recruit in 1989, Cao earned a commission through the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 and served as a Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer. Throughout his career, he led underwater operations and counter-improvised threat missions around the world, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. He retired from active duty in 2021 as a Navy captain.
Following military service, Cao joined CACI International, where he supported Navy and Marine Corps modernization efforts involving electronic warfare, counter-drone technologies, enterprise IT and shipyard infrastructure optimization.
In 2026, Cao was named to Executive Mosaic‘s prestigious Wash100, the GovCon networking and media company’s annual celebration of the 100 most influential leaders in government contracting. Not only was Cao recognized for his positive impact on the industry, he went on to be crowned the winner of the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote, a competition held after the awardees are announced to determine a fan favorite. The GovCon community decisively chose Cao as the individual—from both the private sector and government—that they admired most.
What Will Hung Cao Discuss in His Navy Summit Keynote?
As Acting Secretary of the Navy, Cao is expected to address some of the service’s most pressing priorities, including strengthening warfighter readiness, accelerating modernization initiatives and improving operational effectiveness across the fleet.
Cao has identified three core priorities for the Department of the Navy:
- Ensuring sailors and Marines have the resources they need to accomplish their missions
- Advancing shipbuilding efforts to provide the fleet with the platforms required to deter and defeat adversaries; and
- Strengthening the defense of the homeland
Attendees can expect perspectives on efforts to reinforce warrior ethos throughout the Navy and Marine Corps, the growing importance of information warfare as a foundational warfighting domain, improving quality-of-life programs for service members and families, and strengthening infrastructure supporting military operations in the Indo-Pacific.
Shipbuilding is expected to be a major topic of discussion, particularly as it aligns with the Trump administration’s Golden Fleet initiative, which seeks to revitalize the nation’s maritime industrial base and expand naval capabilities.
Cao has also been a strong advocate for acquisition reform, warning that bureaucratic obstacles can slow the delivery of ships, submarines, weapons systems and emerging technologies needed to maintain military advantage. In the wake of modern conflicts, Cao has also advocated for creative approaches to procurement like acquiring a product from many vendors instead of relying on one large vendor.
His keynote is expected to provide valuable insight into how the Navy and Marine Corps is approaching modernization, innovation and readiness in an increasingly complex security environment.
2026 Navy Summit Agenda Highlights
The 2026 Navy Summit is the premier forum to meet senior military officials, Navy and Marine decision-makers and industry executives and discuss the technologies, partnerships and strategies shaping the future of naval operations. The event will also provide attendees with opportunities to engage directly with government leaders and industry partners driving mission success across the maritime domain.
Featured discussion topics include:
- The Golden Fleet; AI-driven shipbuilding and modernization
- Commercial technology for fleet operations
- Project Overmatch, CJADC2 and network-centric warfare
- Modernization of enterprise networks for information warfare readiness
- The hybrid fleet; unmanned and autonomous programs
- Agile infrastructure and seamless digital integration for connected warfighters
Additional speakers include (with more to come):
- Vice Adm. Michael Vernazza, commander of Naval Information Forces
- VADM Brad Skillman, deputy chief of naval operations for integration of capabilities and resources
- CAPT Jeremiah Daley, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for robotic autonomous systems
- Bryan Lopez, director of emerging technologies, Navy chief information officer
Why Should GovCons Attend the 2026 Navy Summit?
The 2026 Navy Summit offers government contractors a unique opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the Department of the Navy’s strategic priorities and evolving mission requirements.
By attending, GovCon leaders can better understand modernization initiatives, acquisition trends and readiness challenges influencing future contracting opportunities. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with senior military officials, policymakers and industry executives while exploring partnership opportunities that support the Navy’s mission.
Register today to hear Acting Secretary Hung Cao’s keynote address and join the conversation on the future of America’s naval force at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on August 27.
