Senate Confirms Florida Businessman John Phelan as Navy Secretary

Phelan said his business background will help the Navy address long-standing problems in shipbuilding and budget management.

John Phelan at a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing in Washington on Feb. 27, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Senate has confirmed John Phelan, an investor who pledged to compensate for his lack of military experience with his business prowess, as the new secretary of the Navy.

Phelan, 61, was approved on Monday in a 62–30 vote to lead the Department of the Navy, which also oversees the U.S. Marine Corps. Along with 51 Republicans, 11 Democrats voted to support his nomination, including Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and committee members Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).