Pentagon Shake-Up: Why the US Navy Secretary Was Removed Amid Iran Tensions

The US Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, has been dismissed. This news has spread widely across the Russian segment of the internet and has already given rise to various conspiracy theories. The main one suggests that the Navy Secretary opposed US strikes against Iran. It must be said immediately that the resignation of this official is highly unusual. Moreover, it follows another high-profile personnel decision — the recent replacement of the Chief of Staff of the US Army, General Randy George, which took place on April 2. The reasons behind that decision were previously analyzed. Now it is necessary to examine why John Phelan left his post. US Navy Command Structure There is an important nuance in the organization of the US Department of the Navy. The top military officer in the US Navy is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). This position is equivalent to the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force. However, naval leadership chose a distinct title for their top commander.