Hung Cao (born August 3, 1971) is a retired American Navy combat veteran. He ran as a Republican for U.S. Representative in Virginia’s 10th congressional district in 2022, as well as the party’s nominee for the state’s U.S. Senate election in 2024. In February 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Cao for the position of United States Under Secretary of the Navy, which requires Senate confirmation.
Early Life
Hung Cao’s journey starts in Vietnam, where he was born in 1972. Cao’s family sought safety in the United States in 1975, while he was a youngster. Although most of his personal past is kept confidential, it is apparent that his early events affected his personality and motivation. Hung Cao, a 52-year-old American citizen of mixed ethnicity who practices Buddhism.
Educational & Military Journey
Cao’s academic achievements are as impressive as his military career. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 and received a graduate degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2008. His military career spanned three decades, and he held crucial positions such as Operations Officer, Flag Aide, Executive Officer, and Division Chief.
Captain hung Cao spent some of his childhood in Niger, where his father worked as an agricultural consultant for USAID. He returned to the United States at the age of 12 and graduated with the first class of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.
Cao joined the United States Navy as a seaman recruit in 1989 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science in applied physics in 2008.
He was an ordnance disposal and salvage diving specialist who led the Navy team aboard the USNS Grasp that recovered the bodies of John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette following their 1999 accident off Martha’s Vineyard. He served 25 years in the Navy, retiring as a captain in October 2021. His military service included active deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
Captain Cao has received the Command Ashore Badge, the Navy Diving Officer Badge, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warfare Officers Badge. Cao is a vice president at CACI, a US government contractor that provides services to defense, intelligence, and homeland security organizations.
Hung Cao ran in the 2022 election for Virginia’s 10th congressional district seat. He mentioned the Biden administration’s 2021 pullout from Afghanistan as a rationale for entering politics. He was one of 11 candidates in the May 21 Republican ranked-choice primary. He won the contest by around 2,800 votes over his nearest opponent, securing a seat in the general election against incumbent Democrat Jennifer Wexton, who was seeking a third term.
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Cao was regarded as a strong candidate in a district with a high concentration of Asian Americans and military families. During a debate with Wexton, he showed support for the deregulation of government in practically every aspect of life.
Throughout the campaign, Wexton attempted to paint Hung Cao as “extreme” in comparison to the district’s political demographics, emphasizing his anti-abortion and pro-gun rights views. Cao lost her election to Wexton by 19,242 votes.
Cao declared his candidacy for the 2024 Virginia US Senate campaign in July 2023. He earned former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. On June 18, 2024, Cao easily won the Republican primary, collecting 61.8% of the vote in a five-candidate election.
On June 24, USA Today reported that Cao stated in campaign appearances that “I’m 100% disabled, you know, because just from being blown up in combat many times.” However, he had neither received the Purple Heart nor the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon, both of which would ordinarily be presented to those injured by enemy action. Cao refused the newspaper’s request for clarity on his ailments.
He progressed to the November 5 general election, where he will face incumbent Senator Tim Kaine. Kaine defeated Cao by 397,204 votes.
Nomination for Under Secretary of the Navy.On February 28, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Hung Cao as Under Secretary of the Navy, the force’s second-highest ranking job, which required Senate approval.
Captain Hung Cao wife
Hung Cao is a devoted family man. He married his long-term fiancée on December 12, 2023, in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends. The pair has been happily married for more than 25 years and has five children: two sons and three daughters. While he keeps most of his personal life secret, he does occasionally publish photos of his wife and children on social media.
Hung Cao net worth
Hung Cao has an estimated net worth of $3 million, which he has accumulated through his extended military experience and labor in several professional roles. As he enters the political arena, his extensive expertise and passion resonate with voters, positioning him as a formidable competitor against Senator Tim Kaine in the approaching election. With his sights set on the Senate, Hung Cao’s story continues to inspire and enchant people who follow his incredible career.
Social Media
Twitter: @Hungcao
