Senate confirms Braithwaite as new Navy secretary

The Senate today confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Norway Kenneth Braithwaite to serve as the new Navy secretary.

The upper chamber's Republican cloakroom announced on Twitter that senators approved Braithwaite's nomination by voice vote.

Braithwaite appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month for his nomination hearing, where he suggested the Navy could use Large Unmanned Surface Vessels for ballistic missile defense missions.

President Trump announced his decision to nominate Braithwaite, a retired rear admiral, as the Navy's top civilian in November. The announcement followed former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer's ouster over the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's court case.