Trump officially sends Senate his Navy secretary nomination

President Trump on Monday officially nominated Kenneth Braithwaite, his current ambassador to Norway, to serve as secretary of the Navy.

A press release from the White House stated that Braithwaite’s nomination to replace Richard Spencer, who resigned in November, had been sent to the Senate along with a host of other nominations.

Braithwaite, a retired Navy rear admiral, has served as ambassador to Norway since February of 2018. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1984 and later studied at the Naval War College as well as the Air Command and Staff College.

Spencer resigned from the Trump administration last year after his handling of the case against former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher was criticized by Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Esper told reporters in November that he had recommended Braithwaite for the position.

“Kenneth Braithwaite is somebody I’ve known for quite some time. I think he’d be very capable. It’s my recommendation to the president,” he said.

Updated at 9:03 p.m.