Acting Navy Secretary Visits Carrier Families, Emphasizes Listening Over Briefings

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao traveled to San Diego to speak directly with relatives of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, who expressed anger and anxiety about the ship’s protracted deployment. The carrier has logged 208 consecutive days at sea, with crews coping with deteriorating facilities and relentless combat tasks, raising fears of accidents from fatigue. Cao recalled a 2004 episode when the 1st Armored Division’s tour was extended from twelve to fifteen months, learning that senior leaders must prioritize listening to families.

He described how, in Germany, families asked simple, personal questions rather than strategic ones, and how honest answers helped shift anger toward reluctant acceptance. By meeting the Lincoln families, Cao aimed to provide transparent answers about the deployment’s duration and mitigation efforts, acknowledging their right to question the burden placed on them. The visit highlights the broader challenge of maintaining morale and safety when military missions extend beyond original timelines.