NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy's new chief of naval operations spent some time at Naval Station Norfolk aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) with crew members on Thursday.

Admiral Daryl Caudle took over as chief of naval operations, the Navy’s highest-ranking officer, on Monday, ending a six-month vacancy created by the Trump administration’s firing of his predecessor.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted a growing list of top military leaders with little or no explanation. Hegseth fired Caudle’s predecessor, Adm. Lisa Franchetti , without explanation in February.

Neither Caudle nor Navy Secretary John Phelan addressed the ouster at a swearing-in ceremony Monday, although Franchetti was among several former chiefs of naval operations in attendance.

Caudle showed his agreement with an of

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