Hung Cao was born in 1971 in Saigon, South Vietnam, during a period of intense political and military conflict in the country. In 1975, following the fall of Saigon, his family left Vietnam and eventually settled in the United States. His early experiences as an immigrant shaped his perspective on freedom, opportunity, and public service, themes that later became important in both his military and political career.
After immigrating to the United States, Cao spent part of his childhood in West Africa, where his father worked as an agricultural specialist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The family later returned to Northern Virginia when Cao was about 12 years old. Growing up between different countries and cultures gave him a broad international outlook and helped shape his interest in science, engineering, and service.
Cao attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, graduating as part of the school’s inaugural class. He went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering. His education at the Naval Academy marked the beginning of a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy, eventually leading him into special operations, diving, explosive ordnance disposal, and other military assignments.
Hung Cao Education
Hung Cao began his formal education in Northern Virginia after his family returned to the United States. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Alexandria, Virginia, a highly selective public school known for its strong emphasis on science, mathematics, and technology. Cao was a member of the school’s inaugural graduating class, an experience that helped strengthen his interest in technical and scientific subjects.
After high school, Cao attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. His Naval Academy education combined engineering and scientific training with military leadership and discipline, providing the foundation for his subsequent career as a U.S. Navy officer.
Cao later continued his education through advanced academic and professional programs. He earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and participated in executive and leadership programs, including MIT Seminar XXI and the Harvard Kennedy School. His background in engineering, applied physics, and national-security studies complemented his extensive military experience and prepared him for senior leadership roles in the U.S. Navy and federal government.
Hung Cao Career
Hung Cao began his professional career in the U.S. Navy, where he developed expertise in special operations, diving, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), and underwater operations. During his military service, he held a variety of assignments and served in demanding environments, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. His work involved supporting special operations forces and dealing with underwater threats, explosives, and improvised explosive devices. Cao eventually rose to the rank of captain before retiring from active military service in October 2021.
After retiring from the Navy, Cao moved into the private sector and became involved in national-security and technology-related work. He served as a vice president and client executive at CACI International, a defense and government-services company. He also entered electoral politics as a Republican, running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in 2022. Although he was unsuccessful, the campaign raised his national profile and established him as a prominent Republican figure with a military and immigrant background.
Cao later returned to government service under the Donald Trump administration. In 2025, he became Under Secretary of the Navy, taking on a senior leadership role within the Department of the Navy. In April 2026, he became Acting Secretary of the Navy, overseeing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In September 2026, President Trump nominated Cao to serve as the permanent Secretary of the Navy, a position that requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. If confirmed, the appointment would represent the latest stage of a career spanning military service, the private sector, electoral politics, and senior federal leadership.
Hung Cao Personal Life and Family
Hung Cao is married to April Cao, and the couple have built their family together while he pursued a demanding career in the U.S. Navy and later in government and politics. April has generally maintained a relatively private public profile, while Cao has occasionally spoken about his family and immigrant background when discussing his personal journey and reasons for serving the United States.
Hung Cao and April Cao have five children. His family has been an important part of his life, particularly during his years of military service, when his career involved overseas deployments and demanding assignments. Cao has often connected his commitment to public service with his family’s experience as Vietnamese immigrants and the opportunities they found after coming to the United States.
Cao was born into a Vietnamese family that left South Vietnam in 1975 and eventually established a new life in the United States. His father worked as an agricultural specialist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which led the family to spend part of Cao’s childhood in West Africa before returning to Northern Virginia. His family’s immigration experience and his upbringing across different countries have remained important elements of his personal story and public identity.
Hung Cao Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Hung Cao was born on August 3, 1971, in Saigon, South Vietnam, making him 55 years old as of September 2, 2026. He is Vietnamese-American by nationality and background. Born in Vietnam and raised partly in the United States and West Africa, Cao later became a U.S. citizen and built his career through military and government service.
Cao has publicly identified as a Catholic, and his faith has been an important part of his personal background. His religious upbringing and Vietnamese heritage have contributed to his identity and the values he has emphasized throughout his public career. However, his public profile has generally focused more heavily on his military service, family, and political career than on detailed discussions of his religious practices.
Cao is a tall, athletic-looking man with a military-style bearing. He is commonly seen with short dark hair, a fit build, and a clean-cut appearance, reflecting his decades of military service. A reliably verified public source does not establish his exact height, so specific figures circulating online should be treated cautiously rather than presented as fact. His physical appearance is generally characterized by his military posture and professional, conservative style.
Hung Cao Social Media Presence
Hung Cao maintains a public presence on social media, where he shares updates about his military background, political activities, public appearances, and views on issues affecting the United States. His online platforms have also allowed supporters to follow his transition from political candidate to senior government official.
Cao has an Instagram account under the handle @hungcao, where he posts photographs, videos, campaign-related updates, public engagements, and personal moments. His social media presence has become an important way for him to communicate directly with supporters and highlight his work in public service.
In addition to Instagram, Hung Cao has maintained a presence on other major social-media platforms, particularly Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). His accounts are primarily focused on public affairs, national security, military service, and political commentary, giving followers an opportunity to keep up with his activities and career developments.
Hung Cao Net Worth
Hung Cao’s exact current net worth has not been publicly established, so figures published by celebrity- and biography-focused websites should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed wealth. However, his federal financial disclosure provides a useful basis for estimating his finances. A disclosure associated with his appointment as Under Secretary of the Navy reported assets in the range of approximately $366,000 to $865,000.
A significant part of Cao’s income before entering senior government service came from his career at CACI International, where he worked as a vice president and client executive. His financial disclosure reported $551,000 in salary income from CACI, along with additional compensation and CACI-related assets, including restricted stock units. His disclosure also listed cash holdings, retirement investments, book royalties and other financial interests, while reporting mortgages and a home-equity line of credit as liabilities.
Based on the publicly disclosed assets, employment income, investments and liabilities, a reasonable estimate of Hung Cao’s net worth would be around $400,000–$800,000, although his actual current net worth could be higher or lower because disclosure ranges do not provide precise valuations for every asset. It is therefore more accurate to describe this as an estimated net worth based on public financial disclosures, rather than a confirmed figure. As of 2026, Cao is serving as Acting Secretary of the Navy after previously serving as Under Secretary of the Navy.
Legacy
Hung Cao’s legacy is closely connected to his journey from a Vietnamese immigrant family to a senior leader in the United States government. His family left South Vietnam in 1975, and his experiences growing up between Vietnam, West Africa, and the United States became an important part of his personal story. His rise through the U.S. Navy has also made him an example of how military service and public leadership shaped his career.
His military career forms another major part of his legacy. As a Navy officer, Cao served in demanding roles involving special operations, diving, explosive ordnance disposal, and underwater warfare, with deployments including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. His progression from a technical military officer to a Navy captain and eventually to senior civilian leadership reflects decades of experience in national security and defense.
Cao’s legacy continues to develop through his transition into politics and senior government service. After running for federal office, he joined the Trump administration as Under Secretary of the Navy and later became Acting Secretary of the Navy in 2026. His September 2026 nomination to become the permanent Secretary of the Navy represents another significant chapter in his career. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Cao would become one of the most senior Vietnamese-American figures in the U.S. national-security establishment, further adding to the significance of his career and immigrant story.
Conclusion
Hung Cao’s life and career reflect a remarkable journey from Saigon, Vietnam, to senior leadership in the United States Navy. From his family’s immigration to America and his education in engineering to his decades of military service, private-sector career, political activities, and leadership within the Department of the Navy, Cao has built a diverse public-service career. His experience as a combat veteran, immigrant, engineer, and government leader continues to shape his public profile, while his 2026 nomination to serve as Secretary of the Navy marks a significant new chapter in his evolving legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hung Cao
Who is Hung Cao?
Hung Cao is a Vietnamese-American retired U.S. Navy captain, former Republican political candidate, and senior U.S. government official. He served as Under Secretary of the Navy before becoming Acting Secretary of the Navy in 2026.
How old is Hung Cao?
Hung Cao was born on August 3, 1971, making him 55 years old as of September 2, 2026.
Where was Hung Cao born?
Hung Cao was born in Saigon, South Vietnam, in 1971. His family left Vietnam in 1975 and eventually settled in the United States.
Who is Hung Cao’s wife?
Hung Cao is married to April Cao. The couple have five children.
How many children does Hung Cao have?
Hung Cao and his wife, April Cao, have five children.
What is Hung Cao’s religion?
Hung Cao is Catholic. His Vietnamese-American background and faith have been part of his personal identity.
What is Hung Cao’s nationality?
Hung Cao is American, with Vietnamese heritage. He was born in South Vietnam and immigrated to the United States with his family.
Where did Hung Cao go to college?
Hung Cao attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School.
What was Hung Cao’s military rank?
Hung Cao retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain after a career that included special operations, diving, explosive ordnance disposal, and deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia.
What is Hung Cao’s current job?
As of September 2026, Hung Cao is serving as Acting Secretary of the Navy. President Donald Trump has nominated him to become the permanent Secretary of the Navy, subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.
What is Hung Cao’s net worth?
Hung Cao’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Based on publicly available financial disclosures, his estimated net worth is approximately $400,000 to $800,000, although the actual figure may differ.
What is Hung Cao’s Instagram handle?
Hung Cao’s Instagram presence is associated with the handle @hungcao. His social-media content includes public appearances, political activities, military-related topics, and personal updates.
What is Hung Cao best known for?
Hung Cao is best known for his U.S. Navy career, combat service, Vietnamese-American immigrant background, political campaigns, and senior leadership roles in the Department of the Navy.
Is Hung Cao the Secretary of the Navy?
Hung Cao is currently Acting Secretary of the Navy. In September 2026, President Donald Trump nominated him for the permanent position, but he must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before becoming Secretary of the Navy permanently.