President-elect Donald Trump has selected businessman and investor John Phelan to serve as the next Secretary of the Navy, a choice that breaks with a 15-year tradition of appointing military veterans to the role.
Phelan, who has no military experience, would be the first person in more than a decade and a half to lead the Navy without prior service in any branch of the armed forces, should he be confirmed. The announcement comes as Trump continues to shape his cabinet in preparation for his administration.
In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, Phelan expressed his “great honor” at the nomination but declined to provide further details on his lack of military service.
Trump, in a statement on Tuesday night, praised Phelan’s “record of success” and his leadership abilities. The President-elect highlighted Phelan’s role as the founder and leader of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as his educational background as a Harvard Business School graduate.
“John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision,” Trump said. “He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else.”
If confirmed, Phelan will oversee a military branch with more than 900,000 personnel and an annual budget exceeding $210 billion. He will replace Carlos Del Toro, who served in the Navy for over two decades and held multiple sea-duty assignments.
The decision to appoint a non-veteran to such a prominent military position is noteworthy. Of the last eight Navy secretaries since 2009, all have had military experience, with a long history of veterans filling the role. According to the Military Times, 20 of the last 26 Navy secretaries over the past 70 years have been veterans.
This move follows Trump’s previous announcement on Nov. 12 that he would nominate Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard captain and combat veteran, to serve as Secretary of Defense.
