“I am extremely proud but humbled to return to the Department of the Navy,” Del Toro said. “I come back as someone who loves the Navy – who spent twenty-six years in uniform and another seventeen striving to make sure you had the capabilities you needed to fulfill your mission effectively and safely. Serving you as your 78th Secretary of the Navy is a high honor that carries grave responsibilities to which I will dedicate all my skill and devotion.”

Born in Havana, Cuba, Del Toro immigrated to the United States in 1962. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 as a Surface Warfare Officer and later attended Naval Postgraduate School, Naval War College, and George Washington University.

Over the course of a 22-year career as a naval officer, Secretary Del Toro held a series of critical appointments and served numerous tours of duty at sea – including Senior Executive Assistant to the Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; First Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84); and Special Assistant to the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President.

“Carlos Del Toro’s lifelong pursuits and deep experience advancing America’s national security make him well-prepared to serve as the 78th Secretary of the Navy,” Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III said in an earlier statement. “A student of the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval War College, Carlos rose through the ranks during the Cold War and Operation Desert Shield and Storm to serve as the first commanding officer of the destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and then later as a trusted aide to Pentagon leadership. He understands firsthand the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing our Navy, from addressing the pacing challenge of China and modernizing our capabilities, to investing in our most valuable asset – our people. As an immigrant who has dedicated his life to public service, Carlos exemplifies the core values of honor, courage, and commitment in defense of our country.”

“We remain the preeminent force in the world because of leaders like Carlos, and I have no doubt our Navy and our nation will be well served. I congratulate him on his confirmation, look forward to working with him and take pleasure in welcoming him back aboard.”