IC Workforce & Reform — 2026-05-03

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Fires Chief of Naval Intelligence and Dissolves Intelligence Reorganization

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao fired Chief of Naval Intelligence Rob Townley this week and on April 24 issued a memorandum to nearly two dozen Navy organizations rescinding the organizational directives introduced by former Secretary John Phelan, including the directive establishing the Office of the Chief of Naval Intelligence and Security, according to DefenseScoop. The memo directed all affected units to revert to the structure predating Phelan's reforms, effectively dissolving an eight-month reorganization effort. Senior defense officials quoted anonymously by DefenseScoop said the Navy's I&S enterprise is currently without executive leadership over a multibillion-dollar budget and thousands of personnel, and that OCNI&S's operational status and DUSN I&S's current structure remain unconfirmed by the Navy.

Analysis
The days-into-office timing and breadth of Cao's rescission signal deliberate architectural rollback, not interim housekeeping, per a single DefenseScoop report on anonymous officials. The reversal creates its own coordination demand: commands directed to revert now lack the executive leadership to adjudicate conflicts or set priorities. Additional personnel changes are likely before July 2026, driven by unresolved DUSN I&S reconstitution. Extension to other DoD intelligence entities is uncertain; acting status limits the mandate's reach, and no named incumbent elsewhere is under reported review. Cao may instead be clearing the slate for a confirmed permanent secretary rather than asserting a durable structural preference.

1 sources

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao early intelligence and security shakeup sparks questions and concerns - DefenseScoop