<p>The US Senate on Thursday confirmed the Navy's fourth new leader in six months -- an avid supporter of President Donald Trump who will lead the service as it grapples with morale problems amid the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Kenneth Braithwaite, a retired rear admiral who currently serves as the US ambassador to Norway, was approved as the next Secretary of the Navy in the upper chamber in a voice vote.</p>.<p>During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Braithwaite made a point of emphasizing his smooth relations with the administration.</p>.<p>His confirmation follows the tumultuous tenures of several recent Navy leaders.</p>.<p>"While I recognize the challenges for all they are, I am ready," the 60-year-old former pilot said.</p>.<p>"It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership," he said.</p>.<p>The Navy was recently rocked by a crippling outbreak of coronavirus on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt.</p>.<p>The ship's captain, Brett Crozier, was removed in early April after breaking his chain of command to make the outbreak public.</p>.<p>Then-acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly resigned days later, after a ranting, profanity-laced speech to the Roosevelt crew in which he accused Crozier of "betrayal."</p>.<p>In November, then-Navy secretary Richard Spencer was fired after he pushed back against Trump's protection of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who had been charged with war crimes and convicted of lesser charges.</p>.<p>Braithwaite also mentioned a massive bribery scandal dubbed the "Fat Leonard" case and a 2017 ship collision that killed 17 people as other challenges for the military branch.</p>.<p>Braithwaite held a number of positions in the Navy, including spokesman, before leaving the armed services in 1993 to join the private sector.</p>.<p>In 2016, he participated in Trump's campaign in Pennsylvania and was part of the president's transition team at the Pentagon.</p>.<p>He replaces acting Navy Secretary James McPherson.</p>
<p>The US Senate on Thursday confirmed the Navy's fourth new leader in six months -- an avid supporter of President Donald Trump who will lead the service as it grapples with morale problems amid the coronavirus pandemic.</p>.<p>Kenneth Braithwaite, a retired rear admiral who currently serves as the US ambassador to Norway, was approved as the next Secretary of the Navy in the upper chamber in a voice vote.</p>.<p>During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Braithwaite made a point of emphasizing his smooth relations with the administration.</p>.<p>His confirmation follows the tumultuous tenures of several recent Navy leaders.</p>.<p>"While I recognize the challenges for all they are, I am ready," the 60-year-old former pilot said.</p>.<p>"It saddens me to say that the Department of the Navy is in rough waters due to many factors, but primarily the failure of leadership," he said.</p>.<p>The Navy was recently rocked by a crippling outbreak of coronavirus on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt.</p>.<p>The ship's captain, Brett Crozier, was removed in early April after breaking his chain of command to make the outbreak public.</p>.<p>Then-acting Navy secretary Thomas Modly resigned days later, after a ranting, profanity-laced speech to the Roosevelt crew in which he accused Crozier of "betrayal."</p>.<p>In November, then-Navy secretary Richard Spencer was fired after he pushed back against Trump's protection of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who had been charged with war crimes and convicted of lesser charges.</p>.<p>Braithwaite also mentioned a massive bribery scandal dubbed the "Fat Leonard" case and a 2017 ship collision that killed 17 people as other challenges for the military branch.</p>.<p>Braithwaite held a number of positions in the Navy, including spokesman, before leaving the armed services in 1993 to join the private sector.</p>.<p>In 2016, he participated in Trump's campaign in Pennsylvania and was part of the president's transition team at the Pentagon.</p>.<p>He replaces acting Navy Secretary James McPherson.</p>