Top Navy officials seek to calm fleet after stormy week of pandemic and upheaval

Two top Navy officials sought Thursday to reassure U.S. sailors that the service was moving forward after a week marred by coronavirus contagion, the sacking of an aircraft carrier captain and the untimely exit of the acting Navy secretary.

“The events of the past week have been difficult for our Navy and our nation,” Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, said in a memo to the fleet. “We will learn from them. But make no mistake, we are moving forward. The Navy has our orders and we are executing them.”

James E. McPherson, the newly installed acting Navy secretary, told sailors in a memo he would “do everything in my power to support your efforts and safety, and the safety and well-being of your families.”

Former acting secretary Thomas Modly resigned Tuesday after audio was leaked in which he called the former commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt “stupid” during an in-person address to the ship’s crew.

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