Navy League 2025: New navy secretary cites readiness as priority

Aircraft carrier John F Kennedy is shown here under construction. US Navy and congressional changes have delayed delivery schedule and navy Secretary John Phelan wants to curtail such schedule-altering changes. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

New US Navy (USN) Secretary John Phelan underscored the need for readiness, contracting reform, and shipbuilding improvements on 9 April during his speech at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2025 annual conference and exposition.

“My number one priority is readiness,” Phelan said. “I wake up every day focused on our readiness, our ability to fight, and our modernisation strategy.”

He identified three areas of focus.

“First, strengthen the shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base,” Phelan said.

“Second, foster an adaptive, accountable, and warfighting culture. And third, the health, welfare, and training of our people, our sailors, marines, and their families.”

He also noted, ”In the coming weeks, I will review our acquisition systems and identify how we can streamline and reform them. I will work across the department and especially with industry to find solutions. We will restore and maintain operational readiness and fiscal responsibility.”

He and his staff are in the early stages of reviewing all USN contracts and “understanding how the decision process works from start to finish”, Phelan said.

“I'm still trying to understand why things take as long as they do,” he said. “I'm trying to understand why they cost as much as they do. You know I see numbers on things that are eye-opening to me.”