### Trump Nominates John Phelan for Navy Secretary Despite Lack of Military Experience

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated John Phelan, a financier and major campaign donor, to serve as secretary of the Navy. Phelan, who founded Rugger Management LLC, lacks both military service and civilian leadership within defense, a fact that has drawn mixed reactions concerning his potential effectiveness.

According to Phelan's biography, his primary military-related experience stems from his advisory role at Spirit of America, a non-profit that supports defense efforts in Ukraine and Taiwan. Notably, he would be the first Navy secretary without prior military experience since 2006. The current Secretary of the Army, Christine Wormuth, also lacks a military background but has a substantial career in civilian defense roles.

The Navy faces significant challenges at a critical junction, grappling with global deployments and a fleet that is shrinking even as China expands its naval power. Trump, who has aimed to increase the number of Navy ships, may find it difficult to achieve this goal under a secretary unfamiliar with military intricacies.

Defense experts have voiced concerns that Phelan's inexperience could delay efforts to bolster the Navy’s capabilities, especially in light of potential military engagements in the Taiwan Strait. Brad Bowman from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies underscored the high stakes, suggesting that the next few years could be pivotal for U.S. naval operations.

The Navy currently operates just under 300 battle force ships, falling short of Trump’s campaign goal to expand the fleet to 350 ships. Compounding these difficulties are extended deployments that strain resources and personnel, which have prevented the Navy from focusing solely on key regions such as the Pacific.

Service branch heads need to navigate complex bureaucracies and win support from Congress to effect change, a task requiring deep institutional knowledge. Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies highlighted the budgetary constraints, stating that even with a defense budget increase, there might be minimal funds for shipbuilding, forcing the fleet to potentially shrink further.

Trump’s broader approach to appointing disruptors like Elon Musk as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency signals his intent to streamline operations. However, Phelan will need to maneuver through established legislative processes to implement substantial changes within the Navy.

Overall, while Phelan’s close relationship with Trump could offer some advantages, his lack of defense and Pentagon experience is anticipated to complicate efforts to steer the Navy through its current and future challenges.