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Thomas Modly

Thomas Modly

American businessman and government official (born 1960)

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Interest in “Thomas Modly” spiked on Wikipedia on 2026-02-25.

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2026-01-27Peak: 662026-02-25
30-day total: 1,151

Key Takeaways

  • Modly (born December 15, 1960) is an American businessman and former government official who served as acting United States Secretary of the Navy from November 24, 2019, to April 7, 2020.
  • He relieved Captain Brett Crozier for allegedly going outside the chain of command in calling for help with a COVID-19 outbreak, then flew to Guam and addressed Crozier's former crew in a manner that was perceived as disrespectful.
  • He temporarily performed the duties of the Secretary of the Navy from July 15, 2019, to July 31, 2019, while Richard V.
  • Early life Born in 1960, Modly is the son of Eastern European immigrants who escaped from behind the Iron Curtain after World War II.
  • He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy class of 1983, Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School.

Thomas B. Modly (born December 15, 1960) is an American businessman and former government official who served as acting United States Secretary of the Navy from November 24, 2019, to April 7, 2020.

Modly resigned as acting secretary amid wide criticism after firing the captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. He relieved Captain Brett Crozier for allegedly going outside the chain of command in calling for help with a COVID-19 outbreak, then flew to Guam and addressed Crozier's former crew in a manner that was perceived as disrespectful.

Modly had earlier served as Under Secretary of the Navy from December 4, 2017. He temporarily performed the duties of the Secretary of the Navy from July 15, 2019, to July 31, 2019, while Richard V. Spencer served as acting Secretary of Defense and acting Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Early life

Born in 1960, Modly is the son of Eastern European immigrants who escaped from behind the Iron Curtain after World War II. Modly was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating from Shaker Heights High School in 1979. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy class of 1983, Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School.

Career

After graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Modly served on active duty in the United States Navy as a helicopter pilot and spent seven years as a U.S. Navy officer. He has held various leadership positions at Iconixx, Oxford Associates, and UNC Inc., and taught political science at the United States Air Force Academy. Modly was Chief Management Officer and Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Navy.

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