Cuban-American entrepreneur and retired United States Navy officer (born 1961)
Carlos Del Toro (born 1961)
[1] is a Cuban-American entrepreneur and retired
United States Navy officer who serves as the 78th
United States Secretary of the Navy since 2021.
[2]
[3]
Early life and education
Del Toro was born in
Havana ,
Cuba and immigrated to the United States with his parents as a child. He was raised in
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan . Del Toro earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in
electrical engineering from the
United States Naval Academy in 1983.
[3] Del Toro later earned a
Master of Arts in
national security studies from the
Naval War College and also a Master of Professional Studies degree in legislative affairs from
George Washington University .
[4]
Career
Del Toro was a
White House Fellow in 1998–1999.
Del Toro served in the
United States Navy for 22 years, retiring with the rank of
commander . During his service, Del Toro served in the
Office of the Secretary of Defense and special assistant to the director and deputy director of the
Office of Management and Budget . He was also the commanding officer of the
USS Bulkeley .
[5]
After retiring from the Navy, Del Toro founded SBG Technology Solutions, Inc., a program management and engineering firm that primarily works with government clients.
[6]
[7]
[8] In 2007 Del Toro was the Democratic candidate to represent the 88th District in the
Virginia House of Delegates .
[9] He lost to Republican incumbent,
Mark Cole .
[10]
[11] He served on the
University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors from 2014 to 2018.
[12]
[13] From 2019 until 2021, Del Toro sat on the board of directors of the
Stimson Center , a Washington-based security think tank.
[14]
Secretary of the Navy
Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin swears in Del Toro as the 78th secretary of the Navy at the Pentagon, August 24, 2021.
Del Toro's nomination as
Secretary of the Navy was announced by President
Joe Biden on June 11, 2021
[6]
[7] and received by
Congress on June 17.
[15] Del Toro's nomination received praise from
Armed Services Committee Chairman
Jack Reed , who described the nominee as an "excellent selection."
[16]
During a July 13 committee confirmation hearing before the
Senate Armed Services Committee , Del Toro received "mostly friendly" questions from senators, although some
Republicans expressed concerns about the size and perceived inadequacy of President Biden's
FY 2022
defense budget and
America's commitment and ability to defend Taiwan amidst
rising US–China tensions and a recent American failure to defend the island nation in a
military simulation .
[17]
[18]
In regard to the budget, Del Toro supported the Navy's plan to field 355 ships by 2030, but noted that the service would require more funds.
[18] In regard to
Taiwan , Del Toro affirmed his commitment to the island's protection and stated that he would be "exclusively focused on the China threat" and seek to protect American security interests in the
Indo-Pacific .
[19] Del Toro also expressed an intention to focus on
climate change and modernization efforts.
[18]
[19]
[20]
On July 27, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved Del Toro's nomination, advancing him to the full
Senate .
[15]
[21]
[17] On August 7, 2021, his nomination was confirmed by
voice vote .
[22] He assumed office on August 9, 2021, and was ceremonially sworn in on August 24, 2021.
[23]
Controversy
In April 2023, the
Military Religious Freedom Foundation shared a video of a town hall meeting where Del Toro made seemingly homophobic comments. When asked about combating
homophobia in the navy , Del Toro said, "The battles that you face... they're defined by your choice to be homosexual." Del Toro's comments were criticized as
promoting homosexuality as a "choice" , and also being oblivious to homophobia within the military. Del Toro later clarified that he was "an unequivocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community," and was talking about "an individual's decision to share their sexual orientation."
[24]
Personal life
Del Toro has a wife, Betty Del Toro. They have four children and three grandchildren.
[6]
References
^
Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty . Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 88. Retrieved 2021-06-12 .
^
"Guantanamo says goodbye to last Cuban 'commuters' " . AP News . December 14, 2012.
^
a
b
"Biden to nominate Del Toro as Navy secretary" . POLITICO . 11 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^ Eckstein, Megan (2021-06-11).
"White House to nominate retired commander, business leader Carlos Del Toro as Navy secretary" . Defense News . Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^ Losey, Stephen (2021-06-11).
"White House to Tap Former Destroyer Captain Carlos Del Toro as Navy Secretary" . Military.com . Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^
a
b
c
"President Biden Announces Seven Key Nominations" . The White House . 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^
a
b
"UPDATED: White House Taps Carlos Del Toro as SECNAV Nominee" . USNI News . 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^
"White House to nominate Carlos Del Toro as Navy secretary" . Stars and Stripes . Retrieved 2021-06-11 .
^
"Del Toro to challenge Del Mark Cole" . Free Lance-Star . 2007-02-07. Retrieved 2023-07-25 .
^
"Howell, Orrock, Cole are Winners" . Free Lance-Star . 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2023-07-25 .
^
"2007 House of Delegates General Election District 88" . Virginia Department of Elections . 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2023-07-25 .
^
"Del Toro Appointed to UMW BOV After Tate Resigns" . Free Lance-Star . 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-17 .
^
"UMW Board of Visitors Past Members" . University of Mary Washington . 2023-08-17. Retrieved 2023-08-17 .
^
"President Biden nominates Stimson Board Member for Secretary of the Navy • Stimson Center" . 11 June 2021.
^
a
b
"PN713 — Carlos Del Toro — Department of Defense" . congress.gov .
United States Congress . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ Eckstein, Megan (July 11, 2021).
"White House to nominate retired commander, business leader Carlos Del Toro as Navy secretary" .
Defense News . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^
a
b Kenney, Caitlin M. (July 29, 2021).
"The Naval Brief: SecNav nomination advances; Masks return indoors; Wargaming fail; and more" . Defense One . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^
a
b
c Shane III, Leo (July 13, 2021).
"Navy secretary nominee supports expanding fleet, but says more money is needed" . Military Times . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^
a
b Khell, Rebecca (July 13, 2021).
"Navy secretary nominee pledges to be 'exclusively focused on the China threat' " .
The Hill . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ Doornbos, Caitlin (July 13, 2021).
"Biden's pick for Navy secretary tells senators he supports modernization over more ships in 2022 budget" .
Stars and Stripes . Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^
"SASC Advances Nominations of Del Toro, Cisneros, Miller, Karlin, Connor, 1,986 Military Promotions" (Press release).
Washington, D.C. :
Senate Armed Services Committee . July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^
"PN713 – Nomination of Carlos Del Toro for Department of Defense, 117th Congress (2021–2022)" . www.congress.gov . 2021-08-07. Retrieved 2021-08-09 .
^
"Carlos Del Toro" . www.navy.mil . Retrieved 2021-08-10 .
^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff; Dozier, Kimberly (April 11, 2023).
"Navy secretary: chaplain defined by 'choice' to identify as gay" . Navy Times . Retrieved April 13, 2023 .
Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Kathleen Hicks
Secretaries of the Military Departments
Secretary of the Army :
Christine Wormuth
Secretary of the Navy :
Carlos Del Toro
Secretary of the Air Force :
Frank Kendall III
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen
Charles Q. Brown Jr. ,
USAF
Under Secretaries of the Military Departments
Under Secretary of the Army :
Gabe Camarillo
Under Secretary of the Navy :
Erik Raven
Under Secretary of the Air Force :
Kristyn E. Jones (acting)
Under Secretaries of Defense for
Acquisition and Sustainment :
William A. LaPlante
Research and Engineering :
Heidi Shyu
Policy :
Sasha Baker (acting)
Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer :
Michael J. McCord
Personnel and Readiness :
Ashish Vazirani (acting)
Intelligence :
Milancy Harris (acting)
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
ADM
Christopher W. Grady ,
USN
Chiefs of the Military Services
Chief of Staff of the Army : GEN
Randy A. George
Commandant of the Marine Corps : Gen
Eric M. Smith
Chief of Naval Operations : ADM
Lisa M. Franchetti
Chief of Staff of the Air Force : Gen
David W. Allvin
Chief of Space Operations : Gen
B. Chance Saltzman
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
GEN
Daniel R. Hokanson ,
USA
Unified Combatant Command Commanders
Africa : Gen
Michael E. Langley ,
USMC
Central : GEN
Michael E. Kurilla ,
USA
Cyber : Gen
Timothy D. Haugh ,
USAF
European : GEN
Christopher G. Cavoli ,
USA
Indo-Pacific : ADM
John C. Aquilino ,
USN
Northern : Gen
Gregory M. Guillot ,
USAF
Southern : GEN
Laura J. Richardson ,
USA
Space : Gen
Stephen N. Whiting ,
USSF
Special Operations : GEN
Bryan P. Fenton ,
USA
Strategic : Gen
Anthony J. Cotton ,
USAF
Transportation : Gen
Jacqueline Van Ovost ,
USAF
a - Acting