Braithwaite sworn in as Navy secretary

Kenneth Braithwaite, a retired Navy rear admiral and recent U.S. diplomat, was sworn in today as the 77th Navy secretary, according to a Pentagon statement.

Braithwaite was serving as the U.S. ambassador to Norway when President Trump nominated him to lead the Navy and Marine Corps. His active duty career culminated in becoming the vice chief of information.

Braithwaite is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pennsylvania.

The former diplomat is the service's fourth civilian leader in less than a year after Richard Spencer and Thomas Modly both resigned the position following controversial incidents that garnered national attention.

James McPherson, who was confirmed to a senior civilian post in the Army, has been the acting Navy secretary since Modly's departure from the acting secretary role in April.