Archive: Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan

This account has been archived. For the most up-to-date information, please follow @SECNAV.

The future fight isn’t manned or unmanned—it’s both, integrated and acting interchangeably. High-end platforms that command and endure anchor the force. But wars are won by speed, iterating in real time, and scaling combat power without delay. That’s why we are building a true high-low mix of frigates, small surface combatants, and fully integrated unmanned systems. Paired with platforms like the new frigate and MUSVs, we’re expanding sensing, distributing targeting, and increasing fires—without locking capability into a single hull. This is how we maintain control of the seas and project power where it matters.

.@USNavy BBG(X) is built for the fight ahead—and designed for producibility. No commander should have to choose between air defense, ASW, ASuW, or long-range strike. This platform delivers all of it—at the highest level. Battlegroups will integrate unmanned systems, embarked staff elements, layered defenses, and high-speed long-range fires. The next-generation battleship anchors the high end of the Fleet of the Future and delivers decisive combat power from the 2030s into the next century.

. @POTUS historic FY27 budget delivers $65.8B for Navy shipbuilding—+46% over FY26, +123% over FY25. To be a superpower, a nation must be a seapower—and this is the opening move to strengthen American maritime dominance. We look forward to working with Congress to execute—topline into tonnage, appropriations into readiness and the Golden Fleet Initiative into the Fleet of the Future .

Today, the @USNavyCNO and I hosted @RepMikeRogersAL and @RepAdamSmith to discuss our top priority: the @USNavy’s budget request—procuring 34 ships, including 18 battle force and 16 non-battle force ships. This is about more than numbers—it’s about delivering the capability, capacity, and readiness our Sailors and Marines need to operate forward, deter aggression, and win if called.

Productive meeting with Singapore's Head of Navy, RADM Sean Wat. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our enduring naval partnership is not just a legacy—it is a force multiplier for regional stability and deterrence.

Scrums, speed, and just enough chaos—football isn’t the only thing we beat Army at! @NavalAcademy Midshipmen take down the Black Knights and punch their ticket to the semifinals. Rivals on the field. Teammates when it matters most. Beat Army! On to the next!

“Far and away, the most important weapon onboard these ships is the American Sailor." -Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan ‘Raizin’ Caine I could not agree more, Chairman Caine!! Our platforms are the apex predators of the sea, but make no mistake, it is our @USNavy Sailors and @USMC Marines who make them unmatched. I'm incredibly proud of our naval warfighters operating 24/7/365 in the CENTCOM AOR and around the globe. BZ! Watch @TheJointStaff remarks on our forward-deployed forces below. ⬇️

The strength of Naval Special Warfare has always been its people—the Sailors who make up the command and those who served before them—tested, trusted, and ready when it matters most. They bring a decisive advantage to every mission—through unmatched lethality, agility, and precision—and will continue to define the force in the years ahead. Happy Birthday!

In December 2025, the @USNavy approved a design for the McClung class Medium Landing Ship, a transport vessel solely dedicated to moving #Marines and their equipment to better allow the sea service to support and protect joint fleet and air movements. Watch the full video on the Marines YouTube channel at the link below 🔗 youtube.com/watch?v=XhbdPg… #USMC #MarineCorps #SemperFi

Purple Up!

USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. is the first warship to bear the name of a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient—Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. whose actions in the Que Son Valley during Operation Harvest Moon set the standard for leadership under fire. This is not symbolism. This is combat power. And today, she joins something bigger. Under @POTUS Golden Fleet, we are rebuilding American maritime dominance, putting more hulls in the water, faster, strengthening the industrial base, and ensuring we are ready to fight and win today, tomorrow, and beyond. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. honors a warrior and delivers the kind of seapower that both deters war and wins. @SurfaceWarriors @USNavy @USMC

Happy birthday to the U.S. Navy Submarine Force! Thank you for 126 years of silent service, unwavering dedication, and vital contributions to national security. #Navy250 #America250 #SilentService #PeaceThroughStrength

Congratulations to @NASA on Artemis II—making history and carrying exploration forward. A 695,081-mile journey—driven by the courage of our astronauts. Incredibly proud of the @USNavy team supporting the recovery mission and the USS John P. Murtha. We choose to go onward to the Moon—and beyond!

What a journey! 🚀🌖 After a historic 10-day mission that took humans farther than they've been in over 50 years, the Artemis II crew has safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. 🌊

Recovery operations for Artemis II require elite coordination between NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the USS John P Murtha. As a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, the Murtha is uniquely equipped to handle the Orion spacecraft recovery. 🚀🌖⚓️