Hung Cao Biography – Age, Career and Net Worth

Hung Cao Biography – Hung Cao was born on August 3, 1971. He is an American politician and former military officer. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1989. He served in the Navy until 2021. He worked in the Navy for many years. In 2025, he became the 35th United States Under Secretary of the Navy. On April 22, 2026, he became the Acting United States Secretary of the Navy. He also entered politics. In 2022, he ran for U.S. Representative in Virginia’s 10th district. In 2024, he ran for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. He lost the election to Tim Kaine. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Hung Cao Biography

Hung Cao is a retired United States Navy officer. He is also an engineer and public servant. He served in the Navy for over 20 years. He held the rank of Captain. He worked in important leadership roles.

He handled complex missions and operations. He used engineering and planning skills in his work. He supports national security and public service. He was born in Vietnam. He came to the United States as a refugee.

His life story shows hard work and determination. He is respected for his leadership and experience.

Hung Cao Family

Hung Cao is married to April Lakata Cao. They have five children. They have two sons and three daughters. One child was adopted from Thailand. They also have a pair of twins. April homeschooled all the children.

The family lives in Purcellville, Virginia. They attend Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia. Hung Cao’s parents are Quan Cao and Ngoc-Tram Nguyen. His parents came from Vietnam.

They moved to the United States in 1975 after the Vietnam War. They came as refugees. His father, Quan Cao, worked in the Vietnamese government. He helped with economic development work. His father died in 2022.

Hung Cao Career

Hung Cao chose to join the United States Navy for a personal reason. He wanted to give back to the country that gave his family a new life. He entered the Navy with strong technical skills.

He also had a clear sense of purpose. His early career was challenging. He went through tough training and long hours. He was tested in many ways. Physically, mentally, and ethically.

During this time, he learned important values: He became responsible for his decisions. He understood teamwork. He learned how to lead under pressure. He respected the chain of command.

As he gained experience, he took on bigger roles. He started leading teams and handling complex systems. His promotions came from hard work and performance. Later, he moved into senior leadership roles.

He became responsible for both missions and people. He guided younger officers and helped shape the organization. This stage of his career required strong judgment and leadership.

Hung Cao Net Worth

Hung Cao works as the Under Secretary of the Navy. He started this job in October 2025. He also works as the Chief Operating Officer of the Navy. This means he helps manage the Navy’s daily work.

He oversees a large budget. He also helps manage military and civilian staff. His pay follows U.S. government rules. It is called Executive Schedule Level III. This is a high-level government salary category.

Before this job, he was a Navy Captain. He retired from the Navy after many years of service. He also ran in elections in Virginia. He ran for Congress in 2022. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024. He did not win those elections.

Hung Cao Early Life

Hung Cao was born on August 3, 1971, in Saigon, South Vietnam. His father, Quan Cao, worked for the government in South Vietnam. His father also studied in other countries and later earned a Ph.D.

In 1975, Hung Cao moved to the United States with his family. They moved because they were refugees. He also lived in Niger for some time. His father worked there for USAID. Later, he returned to the United States.

He studied at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. In 1989, he joined the U.S. Navy. He started as a seaman recruit. In 1996, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.

He studied ocean engineering there. In 2008, he completed a master’s degree in applied physics. He worked in special Navy jobs like diving and bomb disposal. He helped recover bodies after a 1999 plane crash near Martha’s Vineyard.

He served in the Navy for more than 30 years. He retired as a captain in 2021. He served in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. He earned several medals and badges in the Navy.

After retiring, he worked for a defense company called CACI.

Hung Cao Education

Hung Cao is a retired U.S. Navy Captain. He also ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024. He has a strong education in science and engineering. He went to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia.

He was in the first graduating class of that school. He studied ocean engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree there. He later studied applied physics. He earned a master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He also did fellowships at MIT and Harvard. His education helped him in his Navy career and leadership roles.

Hung Cao Personal Life

Hung Cao is married to April Lakata Cao. They have five children together. They have two sons and three daughters. One of their daughters was adopted from Thailand. They also have a pair of twin children.

April homeschooled all the children. The family lives in Purcellville, Virginia. They also attend Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia. Hung Cao lives a private and simple life. He focuses on his family after his long military service.

He spends time mentoring future leaders. He also reads and studies strategy. He takes part in community activities. He spends a lot of time with his family. People describe him as calm and disciplined.

They also say he follows strong principles. His life had many challenges. He left his home country as a child. He adjusted to a new culture in America. He worked in dangerous military situations.

He also faced public attention later in life. These challenges made him stronger and more focused. In the future, he wants to continue serving people. He wants to support national security.

He wants to encourage civic responsibility. He also wants to be remembered for honesty and service.

Hung Cao Achievements

Hung Cao is recognized more for responsibility and service than public awards. He served in the United States Navy for more than 20 years. During his career, he held leadership roles in demanding operational environments.

He contributed to national defense and security missions. His reputation was built through consistency, discipline, and competence. Many of his specific achievements are not publicly detailed.

This is common in military service due to confidentiality. In his career, trust and responsibility are considered the most important measures of success.

Hung Cao Mission

Hung Cao believes that leadership is about service and responsibility. He thinks leaders must make hard decisions. He also believes leaders should accept the results of their decisions.

His goal is to protect freedom. He also wants to make strong institutions that support freedom. He imagines a society with good leaders. He wants leaders to be disciplined and responsible.

He also wants citizens to be informed and aware. He believes people should respect those who serve the country. His focus is not only on military success. He also cares about national stability. He wants people to take civic responsibility seriously.

FAQ – Hung Cao

Q1. Who is Hung Cao?

Hung Cao is an American politician and former U.S. Navy officer. He also served in senior government roles in the U.S. Navy.

Q2. When was Hung Cao born?

He was born on August 3, 1971.

Q3. Where was Hung Cao born?

He was born in Saigon, South Vietnam.

Q4. What is Hung Cao known for?

He is known for serving in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years and later entering American politics.

Q5. What rank did Hung Cao achieve in the Navy?

He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Captain.

Q6. When did Hung Cao join the U.S. Navy?

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1989.

Q7. What political positions did Hung Cao hold?

He became the 35th United States Under Secretary of the Navy and later Acting United States Secretary of the Navy in 2026.

Q8. Which political party does Hung Cao belong to?

He is a member of the Republican Party.

Q9. Did Hung Cao run for election?

Yes, he ran for U.S. Representative in 2022 and for the U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2024.

Q10. What is Hung Cao background?

He came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam and later built a career in the military and public service.

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