John Cartwright Phelan (born 1964) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the 79th United States Secretary of the Navy, appointed to the role by President Donald Trump and sworn in on March 25, 2025[1][5][6]. He leads the Department of the Navy, overseeing the well-being, readiness, and development of nearly one million Sailors, Marines, reservists, and civilian personnel, and manages an annual budget exceeding $265 billion[5][6]. His priorities include strengthening shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base, fostering a warfighting culture, and improving personnel health, welfare, and training[5]. Phelan’s business career is anchored in private investment. He co-founded MSD Capital in 1998, a firm established to manage the capital of Michael Dell, and served as its managing partner until 2022. Under his leadership, MSD Capital grew assets under management from $400 million to over $30 billion and generated more than $20 billion in profits[1][5]. After stepping down as CEO of MSD in 2022, he founded Rugger Management LLC, a private investment company based in Palm Beach, Florida[1][5]. Phelan is recognized for his long-term investment philosophy, emphasizing trust, patient capital, and diversification across asset classes and geographies[3]. Educationally, Phelan graduated Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude with distinction from Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a B.A. in Economics and Political Science, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also earned a General Course degree in Economics and International Relations from the London School of Economics[1][5][6]. His academic achievements include SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022[6]. Phelan is also known for his philanthropy, particularly in education and the arts. He and his wife, Amy, have made significant contributions, including a $10 million endowment to the London School of Economics and endowing free admission to the Aspen Art Museum, where he chaired the Board of Trustees[3][6]. He serves on numerous advisory boards, including Harvard Business School, the SMU Endowment, and the North American Advisory Board for LSE[6]. Politically, the Phelans are active fundraisers, hosting events for candidates including Donald Trump, and have donated to various campaigns[1]. His appointment as Secretary of the Navy is notable as he is a civilian with no prior military experience, bringing a business executive’s perspective to the role[1][7].
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The Navy secretary has taken steps to limit the role of a deputy, sparking debate and raising important questions about the impact of such actions.