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John Phelan (businessman)

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John Phelan
Official portrait, 2025
79th United States Secretary of the Navy
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 25, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyVictor Minella (acting)
Brett Seidle (acting)
Preceded byCarlos Del Toro
Personal details
Born
John Cartwright Phelan[1][2]

1964 (age 60–61)
Political partyRepublican
Children1
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)

John Phelan (born 1964) is an American businessman currently serving as the 79th United States secretary of the Navy under President Donald Trump.

Education

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Phelan earned a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in 1986,[1] and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990.[3] While he was an undergraduate, he studied abroad in London and took classes at the London School of Economics.[4]

Career

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Business

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He is the co-founding partner and chief investment officer of MSD Capital, a private investment company established in 1998 to manage the capital of Michael Dell.[3][5]

In 2022, Phelan resigned as CEO of MSD and founded Rugger Management LLC, a private investment company based in Palm Beach, Florida.[1][6]

Fundraising

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The Phelans regularly host fundraising events at their homes in Palm Beach and Aspen. In 2022, they hosted a fundraiser for amfAR that raised $5.3 million.[7] In August 2024, they hosted a private fundraising dinner for Trump; the guests, who included Steve Wynn, Thomas Peterffy, Greg Abbott, Byron Donalds, Lauren Boebert and Cory Gardner,[8] donated between $25,000 and $500,000 apiece.[9]

Phelan contributed to Trump's presidential campaigns.[5]

Secretary of the Navy

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On November 27, 2024, president-elect Trump announced Phelan as his nominee-to-be for United States Secretary of the Navy.[10] Many noted his complete lack of experience with the Navy, the military, national-security policy, and the defense industry. "Not all service secretaries come into the office with prior military experience, but he’d be the first in the Navy since 2006," the Associated Press reported.[11]

Phelan testified before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services on February 27, 2025.[12] He was confirmed with bipartisan support by a vote of 62-30 on March 24, 2025,[13] and sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Navy the next day.[14]

Family and personal life

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In 2000, Phelan met his future wife Amy on a blind date. A former cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys, Amy was working as a management services and systems engineering consultant in Dallas.[7][5][15] They have a daughter, Makenzie Moon Phelan, who is a New York City–based artist and socialite.[16]

John and Amy Phelan have a $38 million home in Aspen, Colorado, where they display part of their art collection.[17] They also have a home in Palm Beach which displays more of their art collection including works by Andy Warhol and Willem de Kooning.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "John Phelan '86". Southern Methodist University. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "SMU honors 2022 Distinguished Alumni, Emerging Leader" (Press release). Southern Methodist University. October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Introducing John Phelan". London School of Economics. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "Introducing John Phelan". London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Bridges, C. A. "Trump names Florida businessman for secretary of the Navy. Who is John Phelan?". www.msn.com.
  6. ^ "Trump Picks Investment Manager John Phelan as Next Navy Secretary". The Maritime Executive.
  7. ^ a b c Martel, Judy (November 1, 2022). "Amy Phelan's Wonderful, Art-Filled World". Palm Beach Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Smith, David (October 4, 2024). "Donald Trump's foul-mouthed migrant rant captured in private pitch to donors". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, David (October 4, 2024). "Donald Trump's foul-mouthed migrant rant captured in private pitch to donors". The Guardian. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  10. ^ Chan, Melissa (November 27, 2024). "Trump picks John Phelan, a businessman with no military experience, to be secretary of the Navy". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ Copp, Tara (November 27, 2024). "Trump turns to outsider to shake up Navy, but his lack of military experience raises concerns". AP News. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  12. ^ TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF MR. JOHN C. PHELAN TO BE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (PDF) (Report). COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES. February 27, 2025.
  13. ^ "SASC Advances Nominations of Feinberg for Deputy Secretary of Defense, Phelan for Secretary of the Navy". COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES. March 11, 2025.
  14. ^ "Honorable John Phelan Sworn in as 79th Secretary of the Navy at National Archives". United States Navy. March 25, 2025. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  15. ^ Schrader, Adam (December 2, 2024). "Trump's Pick to Lead the Navy Has No Military Experience—But He Does Have a Great Art Collection". Artnet News. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  16. ^ Vales, Ariadne (April 12, 2019). "Over the Moon with Makenzie Moon Phelan". The Extravagant. Archived from the original on December 29, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Smith, David (October 4, 2024). "Donald Trump's foul-mouthed migrant rant captured in private pitch to donors". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Navy
2025–present 		Incumbent
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