Pentagon says navy secretary is leaving, marking another top leader’s departure

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navy’s top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job. In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately” Hung Cao, the navy undersecretary, will become acting secretary of the navy, Parnell said. Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported Phelan had been fired by the Pentagon. The sudden departure comes just a day after Phelan addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual conference in Washington DC, and spoke with reporters about…