Hung Cao, under secretary of the Navy, has accepted the 2026 Wash100 Award, marking his inaugural appearance on Executive Mosaic’s annual list of the most influential leaders in government and the contracting sector.
Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award, presented the honor during a visit to the Pentagon.
Why Did Hung Cao Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Executive Mosaic selected Cao for his transformative leadership in bolstering warfighter readiness and spearheading enterprise-wide reforms across the Department of the Navy. He played a pivotal role in driving initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, modernize legacy systems and improve the quality of service for sailors, Marines and their families. His primary achievements include:
- Unified service framework: Leading a cross-departmental portfolio that consolidates personnel policy, housing, healthcare and digital systems to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate mission outcomes.
- Indo-Pacific strategy: Serving as the senior defense official for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, where he has addressed critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and mission support to solidify Guam’s role as a primary forward operating hub.
- Acquisition reform: Advocating for modernized procurement processes to ensure the rapid delivery of advanced technologies to the fleet in response to evolving global threats.
“With decades of naval experience and a clear, forward-looking vision, Cao is quickly emerging as an influential force in GovCon,” said Garrettson.
Who Is Hung Cao?
As the second-highest-ranking civilian official in the Department of the Navy, Hung Cao oversees nearly 1 million personnel across the Navy, Marine Corps and civilian workforce. His distinguished career includes:
- Military service: A 25-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, Cao served as a special operations officer, Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer with combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
- Private sector expertise: Previously served at CACI International, supporting defense programs centered on electronic warfare, counter-drone systems and enterprise IT.
- Recent appointment: Nominated and Senate-confirmed as under secretary in 2025; his leadership spans more than five decades of experience.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
The Wash100 Award is one of the GovCon sector’s premier recognitions, honoring executives and officials whose strategic direction and innovation shape federal priorities. Each year’s selection highlights those delivering measurable impact across national security and technology modernization.
Cao’s first Wash100 recognition reflects his significant influence in aligning personnel and infrastructure with fleet combat performance. Executive Mosaic congratulates Hung Cao on receiving his first Wash100 Award.
Visit Wash100.com to vote for Hung Cao in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote competition.
