NAVY SECRETARY NOMINEE, JOHN PHELAN, SAYS THAT SHIPBUILDING IS A TOP PRIORITY
Getting your foot in the door of an organization or industry can be difficult without the right experience, yet for John Phelan, it looks like he’s caught a good break. The noted financier and art collector may not have served in the military or have notable experience in the defense industry but that isn’t stopping President-elect Donald Trump from adding him to his cabinet as the next Secretary of the Navy. Learn more about his confirmation hearing and what his priorities are for the Navy.
Who Is John Phelan?
Soon, John Phelan should be the United States Secretary of the Navy; however, he is better known as an investor and collector of the arts.
After receiving an education from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and then Harvard Business School for his MBA, Phelan made quite the name for himself in the world of investments.
This includes founding MSD Capital, a private investment company that managed the wealth of Michael Dell, the notable founder of Dell Technologies.
As it stands, Phelan is a co-founder and chairman of Rugger Management LLC, which is a Florida-based private investment firm.
In addition to more traditional investments, Phelan is known for his taste and art collection.
It’s also fitting that John and Amy Phelan, who began dating in 2000, have a daughter, Makenzie Moon Phelan, who is also an artist making a name for herself in the New York City scene.
There’s no denying Phelan’s extensive experience handling large investment funds; however, it’s his knowledge involving the military in question as Trump has picked him for a high-profile position involving the Navy.
Trump Picks Phelan for Secretary of the Navy
He’s not a Veteran and there doesn’t seem to be much notable experience involving the military on his resume; however, John Phelan is taking on the role of U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
The position has had a Veteran in place for 15 years but despite the lack of experience, Trump is confident due to Phelan’s “record of success” track record of “excelling in every endeavor.”
Additionally, Trump points to Phelan’s “intelligence and leadership” as attributes that make him the perfect man for the job, working to help the Navy but also advance Trump’s “America First vision.”
John Phelan Replaces Carlos Del Toro
Phelan is the 79th Secretary of the Navy, putting him responsible for over 900,000 people and $210+ billion each year.
In recent history, most people who take on the Secretary of the Navy role have experience related to the military—20 out of 26 people to held the position in more than the last seven decades were Veterans.
This includes Carlos Del Toro, a Navy Vet with over two decades of experience and multiple tours of duty at sea—he is who Phelan is replacing under Trump’s second administration.
Going to SMU and Harvard is a surefire way to receive an impressive education; however, unlike Phelan, Del Toro has received a military-specific education, with attendance including the United States Naval Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Naval War College.
Furthermore, Del Toro’s career would see him rise through the ranks to become a Commander in his 22 years as a Surface Warfare Officer, including a career where he would operate as a CO on the USS Bulkeley.
Talents can be repurposed and leadership comes in all kinds of different forms, but it’s still a peculiar pick for someone not connected to the military to take over a position with increasing importance.
Global conflicts, especially those in the Indo-Pacific region, are having a direct influence on the importance of naval warfare.
The Navy’s culture has been a difficult image to clean up for younger generations as attracting and retaining new Sailors remains an important concern.
All of this, and the Navy is also facing several hurdles involving shipbuilding to improve its fleet.
Recapping Navy Secretary Phelan's Confirmation Hearing
During his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Phelan stated that he will be leaning on his business background and experience to fulfill Trump's promise of "shipbuilding, shipbuilding, shipbuilding." During his confirmation hearing, Phelan made it clear that Trump has an interest in the Navy, stating many times that President Trump has contacted him to complain about rusty ships prior to his confirmation hearing.
During his hearing, Sen. Rick Scott, showed a picture of a rusty guided missile destroyer and Phelan responded, "Please don't show that to President Trump because I'll get a text at like 1 a.m. in the morning."
He continued stating, "It's terrible. I think they should be ashamed. Would you want to go on that ship?" Phelan's confirmation hearing was relatively free of hurdles, suggesting that he will have no problem being confirmed.
However, during the hearing Democrats pushed Phelan about Trump's recent action of firing Adm. Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations, the mass firing of 5,400 civilian Pentagon employees, and the plan to slash the defense budget over the next five years. when asked about this issues, Phelan didn't say much, stating that he hasn't been privy to those conversations has he has not been confirmed.
If Phelan ends up being confirmed, he would be the top civilian in charge of the Navy and the Marine Corps. He would also be in charge of managing the annual $250 billion budget.
When asked about what he will bring to the table, Phelan responded, "...a sense of urgency." He went on to explain, "The U.S. Navy is at crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable." Phelan has a lot to do ahead of him, and certainly all eyes will be on him to see what he does next.
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