Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao designated William F. Mahan to serve as acting Under Secretary of the Navy on Sept. 29, filling the service’s second-highest civilian post while the Senate considers a permanent nominee.
The appointment comes as the Navy executes some of the most consequential procurement decisions in a generation, including the acceptance of the USS John F. Kennedy carrier, the F/A-XX next-generation fighter contract and the procurement of 30 unmanned surface vessels, all announced the same day.
William Toti has been nominated for the permanent Under Secretary position and awaits Senate confirmation, the Navy said. Mahan’s designation fills the leadership gap in the interim. His background and previous role were not fully detailed in the public release.
The Under Secretary of the Navy is the service’s chief management officer, overseeing acquisition programs, financial management and business operations. The office has direct authority over contracts worth tens of billions of dollars annually.
The Navy’s civilian leadership structure is managing multiple senior-level vacancies and acting designations simultaneously, a situation that has drawn congressional concern about continuity of oversight at a critical moment for naval modernization.
Stable civilian leadership is considered essential for major acquisition programs, where decisions made during development phases lock in costs and capabilities for decades. The Under Secretary’s office provides the institutional continuity that bridges changes in uniformed Navy leadership.
The Senate Armed Services Committee handles confirmation proceedings for senior Defense Department civilian nominees. The timeline for Toti’s confirmation hearing has not been publicly announced.
Mahan’s designation is effective immediately, the Navy said, ensuring continuous civilian oversight of the Under Secretary’s portfolio during the confirmation process.