Navy SecretaryÂ Richard V. SpencerÂ visited Naval Station Norfolk for the first time August 10, where he pledged that America would defend itself and its allies against aggression fromÂ North Korea.

Tensions between theÂ US andÂ North KoreaÂ have escalated amid threats fromÂ Kim Jong UnÂ to lob missiles near the American territory ofÂ Guam, which is home to naval andÂ Air ForceÂ bases. PresidentÂ Donald TrumpÂ ramped up warnings of "fire and fury" should the dictator put his plan into action.

Spencer, who was sworn in as theÂ Navy'sÂ 76th secretaryÂ August 3, declined to comment on theÂ Navy'sÂ preparations in the Pacific.

"We just hope thatÂ KoreaÂ stops acting the way it does," Spencer said. "We're going to defend ourselves; we are going to defend our allies. They should know that, and we hope that we can have conversations and de-escalate." US Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Rafael Rodriguez (right), command sergeant major of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Regions, greets Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. Photo by Lance Cpl. Erin Ramsay.

Spencer's comments came after he toured the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R.Â FordÂ and Virginia-class submarine USS John Warner and named people, capabilities, and process as priorities for his new role.

Spencer joined theÂ Marine CorpsÂ in 1976 after graduating fromÂ Rollins CollegeÂ with a bachelor's degree in economics and flew the service's H-46 helicopter. He attained the rank of captain before leaving in 1981 for a career in finance, according to aÂ Navy biography. He most recently served as managing director ofÂ Wyoming-basedÂ Fall Creek Management, LLC.

Spencer followsÂ Ray Mabus, whose nearly eight years asÂ NavyÂ secretary -- the longest since World War I -- was marked with criticism for decisions to name some ships after civil and human rights leaders and for dropping a more than two-century-old naval tradition of referring to sailors by their rate, or job title, in favor of rank. That decision was reversed after a storm of fierce opposition.

During hisÂ July 11Â confirmation hearing, Spencer told members of theÂ Senate Armed Services CommitteeÂ that he supports the use of alternative energy sources, growing the capacity and capabilities of the fleet, and protectingÂ NavyÂ bases against sea-level rise. Richard V. Spencer is sworn in as the 76th Secretary of the Navy by William O'Donnell, Department of the Navy administrative assistant. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan B. Trejo.

Spencer also said he opposed the use of the services as "a petri dish for social experiments," instead saying it should be left to the Pentagon to develop policy. A little more than two weeks later and in a series of tweets, Trump said he was banning transgender military personnel from service, stunning an unprepared Pentagon.

Marine CorpsÂ Gen.Â Joseph Dunford, chairman of theÂ Joint Chiefs of Staff, has reaffirmed current policies until additional guidance is given by Defense SecretaryÂ Jim Mattis.

Spencer said August 10 he would follow policies developed by the Pentagon at the direction of theÂ White House, adding context to his "petri dish" statement to mean that no service secretary "should go off and do experiments on their own." But Spencer did not directly say whether the thousands of transgender service members on active duty and in the reserves should be kicked out.

"As I've said before, any patriot that wants to serve and meets all the requirements should be able to serve in our military," Spencer said.
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