WASHINGTON, April 8. / TASS /. The Head of Pentagon Mark Esper accepted the resignation of Acting US Navy Secretary Thomas Modley and appointed James McPherson, the current Under Secretary of the Army to the position, the US Defense Minister twitted on Tuesday.

He said that he accepted the resignation of Minister Modley, and the permission of the President, appointed the current Deputy Minister of Ground Forces, James McPherson, to the position of Acting Minister of the Navy.

Modley filed a resignation earlier Tuesday after harsh criticism of former Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier commander Brett Crozier, whose report on the spread of coronavirus aboard his ship was leaked to the media.

Over the weekend, Modley turned to the crew of Theodore Roosevelt and subjected Crozier, who had already left the ship, to sharp criticism, saying that he was either naive or stupid. Several US politicians spoke out against these comments.