The United States Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Modly (pictured) has resigned after being ordered to apologise for a profanity-laced speech slamming the dismissed captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr Modly offered his resignation to Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper, who had demanded the apology.
Mr Esper later said Mr Modly had resigned of his own accord.
He said Mr Modly had not discussed his actions on board the Roosevelt where, in an address containing obscenities, he told sailors over the loudspeaker system that Captain Brett Crozier was “too naive or too stupid” to lead the ship.
Mr Esper said any further action against Captain Crozier would take place only after the Navy completed an investigation.
James McPherson has been named to take over from Mr Modly as acting Secretary of the Navy.
He will become the third person to serve as the Navy’s top civilian in four months.
Mr Modly resigned after less than 150 days on the job, and his predecessor, Richard Spencer, was fired by Mr Esper over his handling of a war crimes case against Navy SEAL, Eddie Gallagher.
The resignation marks the end of a week-long saga.
Captain Crozier was removed from his post aboard the Roosevelt after a letter he wrote appealing for help for his infected crew was leaked.
The Roosevelt is home to a large portion of the Navy’s confirmed Coronavirus cases.
Washington, 8 April 2020
