Thomas Modly

Thomas Modly
United States Secretary of the Navy
Acting
In office
November 24, 2019 – April 7, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRichard V. Spencer
Succeeded byJames McPherson (acting)
In office
July 15, 2019 – July 31, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRichard V. Spencer
Succeeded byRichard V. Spencer
33rd United States Under Secretary of the Navy
In office
December 4, 2017 – November 24, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byThomas P. Dee (acting)
Succeeded byGregory J. Slavonic (acting)
Personal details
Born (1960-12-15) December 15, 1960 (age 63)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
Georgetown University (MA)
Harvard University (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1983–1990
Thomas Modly's voice
Modly's opening statement at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the FY2021 Navy and Marine Corps posture
Recorded March 11, 2020

Thomas B. Modly (born December 15, 1960) is an American businessman and former government official who served as acting United States Secretary of the Navy from November 24, 2019, to April 7, 2020.[1][2] He resigned as acting Secretary in the wake of his firing and berating Brett Crozier, the captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, for allegedly going outside his chain of command in calling for help to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak onboard. Later, Modly traveled to the ship at port in Guam, where he addressed the crew in a manner that was perceived as disrespectful. He was subsequently widely criticized, and submitted a letter of resignation.

Modly, who was confirmed as the United States Under Secretary of the Navy on December 4, 2017, also temporarily performed the duties of the Secretary of the Navy while Richard V. Spencer was acting Secretary of Defense and acting Deputy Secretary of Defense from July 15, 2019, to July 31, 2019.[3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Thomas B. Modly > U.S. Department of Defense > Biography". Defense.gov. United States Department of Defense. Retrieved April 7, 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ McLeary, Paul (April 7, 2020). "Army's McPherson To Be New Navy Leader; Modly Submits Resignation". Breaking Defense. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Werner, Ben (July 15, 2019). "Esper Officially Nominated to Lead Pentagon; SECNAV Spencer Now Acting SECDEF". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. ^ LaGrone, Sam; Eckstein, Megan (November 24, 2019). "SECNAV Richard V. Spencer Removed Over Gallagher Deal With White House; Modly Now Acting SECNAV". USNI News. United States Naval Institute.
  5. ^ "United States Navy biographies". United States Department of the Navy. November 25, 2019. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "United States Navy biography (Under Secretary of the Navy)". United States Department of the Navy. November 25, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.