President Donald Trump nominated business executive Philip Bilden as secretary of the , the White House announced Wednesday.
The selection of Bilden came after weeks of reports that Trump was also considering former Rep. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.
Bilden is a founding member and recently retired senior adviser with HarbourVest Partners LLC, a global private equity investment management firm. He served a decade in the Reserves as an intelligence and resigned as a captain in 1996. He has lived mostly in Hong Kong since then.
Trump said in a statement that Bilden’s experience in business and the as well as his knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region led to his selection.
“Philip Bilden will apply his terrific judgement and top-notch management skills to the task of rebuilding our unparalleled ,” Trump said in the announcement. “Philip Bilden is the right choice to help us expand and modernize our fleet, including surface ships, submarines and aircraft, and ensure America’s naval supremacy for decades to come.”
Bilden stated: “Maintaining the strength, readiness, and capabilities of our maritime force is critical to our national security. If confirmed, I will ensure that our Sailors and have the resources they need to defend our interests around the globe and support our allies with commitment and capability.”
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