Trump picks businessman John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he is nominating businessman John Phelan, one of his former campaign donors, to serve as his United States Secretary of the Navy.

Phelan, who has never served in the military, founded and leads the private-investment firm Rugger Management, located in Trump’s home city of Palm Beach, Fla. He was a major donor to Trump’s reelection campaign.

“John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision. He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else,” Trump said in a statement Tuesday evening.

His nomination comes weeks after Trump picked former Fox News host and Army National Guard Veteran Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth’s nomination was met with shock by Pentagon officials. Sexual assault allegations against the former “Fox and Friends” host may threaten his confirmation in the Senate.

“John’s intelligence and leadership are unmatched,” Trump said in his statement about the Navy Secretary nomination. “His incredible knowledge and experience will elevate the lives of the brave Americans who serve our Nation.

If he is confirmed, Phelan would be the first permanent Navy secretary who does not have military experience in more than a decade. The secretary of the Navy is required by law to be a civilian who has been removed from active military service for seven years,

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump taps John Phelan as Secretary of the Navy