119th Congress Nominee record

John Phelan

Latest nomination Department of Defense

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Nomination records
1 nomination record
Cited sources
2 cited sources
Nomination snapshot

At a glance

John Phelan brought an investment-management background to the Navy secretary role, taking the oath on March 25, 2025. Before public service he founded Rugger Management and co-founded MSD Capital and MSD Partners. The Navy’s history lists his secretary tenure as 2025–2026.

Summary sources: [1] [2]

Nomination outcomes below are from the Oct 14, 2026 snapshot. Congress.gov may show subsequent actions.

Career and documented accomplishments

  • The Navy biography records an economics and political-science bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Harvard Business School; it also describes studies at the London School of Economics. [1]
  • His prior responsibilities included investment leadership and service with nonprofit and university boards, including the Third Option Foundation and the Aspen Art Museum. [1]

Role and nomination context

  • The Navy secretary oversees departmental policy, personnel and resources for the Navy and Marine Corps. Phelan’s recorded priorities included shipbuilding, the maritime industrial base and personnel welfare; priorities do not establish completed results. [1]
  • The official succession list places Hung Cao after Phelan as acting secretary. A confirmation record from 2025 must therefore be separated from an assertion about the current officeholder. [2]

Nomination history

PN12-36: Secretary of the Navy

Confirmed
Recorded name
John Phelan
Organization
Department of Defense
Listed state
Florida
Received
Latest action
Recorded vote
62–30

Latest recorded action

Confirmed by the Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 30. Record Vote Number: 136.

Read PN12-36 on Congress.gov →

What the sources establish

  • The succession list provides a year range, not a precise departure date; no exact date or reason for departure is inferred.
  • The biography’s London School of Economics wording is summarized as study without equating its General Course qualification to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
  • Official budget and staffing figures vary over time and are not presented as nominee achievements.

Sources and review date

Career and role sources reviewed . These sources may describe developments beyond the nomination snapshot; each nomination entry retains its recorded date and outcome.

  1. John Phelan: 2025–2026 secretary biography

    Naval History and Heritage Command. Reviewed .

  2. Secretaries of the Navy: succession list

    Naval History and Heritage Command. Reviewed .

Understanding these records

PN means presidential nomination. Each numbered record tracks a proposal sent to the Senate.

A Senate confirmation approves a nomination; it is not proof of current tenure or an appointment taking effect. These entries show received dates and the latest recorded action, rather than a complete legislative action timeline.

Read the data methodology or filter the directory for John Phelan.