Secretary of the Navy John Phelan tours Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding in the Republic of Korea SEOUL, May 5 (Reuters) – South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean aims to boost its revenue from overseas military vessels to around 4 trillion won ($2.91 billion) by 2030 and hopes to pick up more repair orders from the U.S The Asian country is a major global shipbuilder and trade talks with the U.S. on tariffs brought up possible cooperation in the sector after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to restore U.S is one of the largest shipbuilders in the world with an order book of $31.43 billion as of the end of March shipyard in Philadelphia last year to expand in the market. 042660.KS which has built dozens of submarines and surface vessels used by the South Korean Navy Navy since last year to repair and overhaul its ships for the first time “I think we may be the biggest shipyard in the world that has taken on these maintenance head of the Naval Ship Global Business at Hanwha Ocean Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited its shipyard Secretary of Navy Visits South Korean Shipyards Amid Growing Maritime Ties but learning the process of working with the U.S which will help if we win newbuild orders.” Hanwha Ocean hoped to win a double-digit number of U.S Navy maintenance and repair orders before 2030 Trump has vowed to spend “a lot of money on shipbuilding” to restore U.S and cited concern over how his country has fallen behind in an industry that is also dominated by China laws can make it harder for foreign shipyards even if they have U.S due to the Byrnes-Tollefson Amendment of the U.S Hanwha Ocean’s Philadelphia Shipyard is trying to get a license that clears it to build U.S but transplanting cutting-edge manufacturing processes honed from competition with other South Korean and Chinese shipyards is not as simple as bringing in some automated welding machines shipbuilding industry hasn’t had to compete very much and there’s a shortage of technicians,” Jeong said “We are looking to modernize facilities and bring in our manufacturing process that can build the same ship in two-thirds the time or less as that of a U.S Jeong said the company is investing in South Korea to use existing facilities and expand naval ship capacity to build five submarines and three surface vessels at the same time by 2029 from two submarines and two surface vessels now Despite building 17 submarines for the South Korean Navy since 1987 Hanwha Ocean has only actively competed for overseas orders in the last few years as South Korea’s low birthrate and shrinking military-age population risk cooling local demand It is competing to export submarines to Poland and Canada a frigate to Thailand as well as knocking on the door in markets in the Middle East, South America to build up a sustained flow of orders that would bring foreign sales to 4 trillion won by 2030 That would be about four times the size of its 1.05 trillion won of revenue in 2024 (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox Navy’s expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5) has completed a groundbreaking five-month Regular Overhaul (ROH) at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Yokohama Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited major South Korean shipyards this week amid strengthening maritime cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Korea White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is set to leave the administration following controversy over sharing sensitive military information departing amid significant developments in U.S Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news For general inquiries and to contact us,please email: [email protected] To submit a story idea or contact our editors, please email: [email protected] For advertising opportunities contactEmail: [email protected]Phone: +1.805.704.2536 Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe Cast your votes for the 2025 DefenseScoop 50 — voting is open through April 18 Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on Thursday ordered the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in IT contracts and unrelated grants as part of a broader push at the Defense Department to slash spending that the Trump administration deems wasteful The moves — outlined in a pair of memos issued to the chief of naval operations Navy assistant secretaries and general counsel — are pursuant to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “commitment to strategically rebuild our military restore accountability to the Department of Defense and implement the President’s orders,” Phelan wrote The IT contracts axed by the SECNAV include those for the Naval Maintenance The NMRO system was designed to provide mobile access for users lobby functions providing customizable work areas of interest and 3D interactive renderings of ship systems enabling sailors to click on an object to access technical and logistics data according to a news release last year from Fleet Force Command “The NMRO logistics program is critical software for the Navy for 5 years systems integrators have over-engineered the software to the point where it is unusable Upon the recommendation of Navy leadership the current contracts under the NMRO program shall be terminated This will allow the Program Office to apply the savings towards a new strategy to meet our needs,” Phelan wrote in a new memo obtained by DefenseScoop from a Navy official He also directed the Navy’s chief information officer to prepare a new acquisition strategy by July 31 along with management review of the program these contract terminations represent over $568 million in total contract value which we estimate can allow the Navy to repurpose up to $200 million in taxpayer funds in a more effective manner,” Phelan wrote “I commend the Navy leaders who raised this opportunity that will result in a more effective fighting force I encourage leaders across the Department of the Navy to follow this example in identifying opportunities to eliminate wasteful spending which we can then re-invest into critical mission needs,” he added In a separate memo obtained by DefenseScoop Phelan ordered the termination of 45 other contracts and grants He said the cuts target “wasteful spending” on climate change and “other activities which are not aligned with DoD and DoN priorities.” The cuts include grants for studies of “Persuasion and Morality in Social-Cyber Environments” and “engendering and leveraging trust in longitudinal human-AI interactions,” among others these 45 terminations represent over $87 million in total award value which we estimate can save up to $41 million in taxpayer funds the Navy can better apply to critical priorities,” Phelan wrote The cuts come as Pentagon leadership has been working with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team led by tech titan and presidential adviser Elon Musk “I commend the DOGE team for finding these opportunities to help save the Navy and increase our readiness and warfighting capability,” Phelan said in a video posted on X “Stay tuned — there’s more to come.” Earlier this month at the Sea-Air-Space conference, Navy CIO Jane Rathbun noted that the Trump administration’s DOGE team was examining the Navy’s software enterprise and use of commercial software “It’s actually being led through the DOD CIO and it is collaborative and they are asking for information from us They are asking for information from the industry partners and really understanding how we buy and how we could do it more effectively,” she told DefenseScoop Hegseth has also been pushing to rein in Pentagon spending on IT services contracts. About two weeks ago, he issued a directive ordering the termination of several major contracts with estimated savings of more than $4 billion He also directed the Pentagon’s chief information officer to draw up plans for in-sourcing The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday requiring political advertisements to include disclosures if the image or video recording used were substantially altered Former House Speaker Dade Phelan — who endured a barrage of political attacks last year during his reelection and speaker campaigns— said he authored HB 366 to ensure voters understand when materials used in ads had been faked as the use of generative artificial intelligence makes it easier to manipulate media that could use falsely represent a candidate’s conduct or speech “This is the beginning of a new era in ethics where the voters need to know what is real and what is not,” the Beaumont Republican said on the House floor “This AI technology gets better every single day The bill would require the disclosure by officeholders candidates or political committees who used altered media in ads and spend more than $100 for political advertising It would task the Texas Ethics Commision with determining what the disclosure would look like Violators would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor The bill faced fierce opposition from hardline conservatives who say it is policing speech and could allow the state to jail people over silly political memes “We have an electorate that is informed and we already have platforms where people can talk,” said Rep “It is not the role of government to sit there and be a nanny state police force to decide.” The bill passed out of the House with a vote of 102-40 Phelan amended the bill to ensure an individual wouldn’t be punished for altering superficial qualities of an image or video “This is nothing different than what we currently do with political advertisements,” Phelan said on the House floor Wednesday “You have to put ’political ad paid for by,’ when you enter this political advertising arena And all this does is tell you to add a disclosure that you are using altered media.” The legislation is one of multiple ethics bills Phelan filed related to political advertisements after enduring a bruising primary campaign last year where his district was flooded with mailers and advertisements making false statements about him and his political record his voters were so confused about what advertisements were real and fake that when his primary opponent received President Donald Trump’s endorsement — which actually occurred— he had voters tell him they didn’t believe it was true if they can't tell my opponent was endorsed by Donald Trump — which is a very valuable endorsement in our primary politics — when they don't even believe that It’s unclear whether the bill has enough support to pass out of the upper chamber the Senate unanimously passed a similar bill related to the use of deep fake videos to influence an election sponsored by Dallas Sen The bill was referred to the House Elections committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership. (VVNG.com) — Drivers traveling through Phelan on Friday should expect delays as road crews carry out paving operations along a busy stretch of Phelan Road San Bernardino County Public Works announced that paving will take place on the eastbound lanes of Phelan Road between Malpaso Road and Johnson Road The scheduled work will occur between the hours of 4:00 a.m Crews will be laying new asphalt as part of the ongoing Phelan Road Improvement Project an 8-mile effort aimed at enhancing infrastructure and safety throughout the corridor Although the larger project will continue through June and follow the directions of flaggers or posted signage when traveling through the area Lane closures and slowdowns are likely during active work hours The broader project spans from 700 feet west of Beekley Road to 400 feet east of Baldy Mesa Road and includes full pavement rehabilitation To stay informed about traffic impacts or future construction phases, visit dpw.sbcounty.gov..sbcounty.gov 📢 Stay connected with the High Desert’s largest news community 🔗 For more local news, visit VVNG.com we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness If you value our reporting and want to see it continue local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community "We need to focus on having a lethal and ready naval force unimpeded by ideologically motivated regulations," Phelan said on X Navy Secretary John Phelan has scrapped the service’s climate action program aimed at addressing a threat his predecessor called “existential.” “Today, I’m focusing on warfighters first and I’m rescinding the Biden administration’s climate action program,” Phelan said in a video posted on social media platform X “We need to focus on having a lethal and ready naval force unimpeded by ideologically motivated regulations.” It is unclear what elements of the action plan were considered “ideologically motivated,” and what regulations or policies were viewed as detracting from readiness or lethality         Join us May 8 at 2 p.m ET to learn how agencies are building strategies to secure mission-critical systems while leveraging AI’s powerful capabilities “The Department of the Navy is focused on shipbuilding We will no longer be sidetracked by climate-focused decision-making Any distraction to those core priorities removes valuable resources better spent on readiness and operational effectiveness Secretary Phelan will continue to focus on initiatives driven by military necessity aimed at making our Navy and Marine Corps more agile and responsive to ongoing global security threats,” Kristina Wong The report Phelan canceled was issued in 2022 by then – Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro The action plan laid out the Navy’s ongoing climate-related efforts and long-term plans through 2030 and beyond bases like Norfolk Naval Base and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island will be severely tested in their ability to support their missions creating more destructive storms requiring our Fleets and Marine Corps forces to increase their operational tempo to respond,” Del Toro wrote in the introduction to the 32-page report released in 2022 Multiple reports and studies have predicted that Parris Island — a critical Marine Corps training ground and the service’s second-oldest base in South Carolina — will face increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes daily high tides could inundate up to three-quarters of the island A string of reports has also projected that Naval Station Norfolk will face increasingly frequent and severe tidal flooding and greater damage from storm surges The Virginia Institute of Marine Science said sea levels in Norfolk are rising faster than in any other city along the Atlantic coast To adapt to changes in global climate and the challenges it poses to the Navy’s operations the service pledged to build a climate-ready force by building climate resilience and reducing climate threat laid out the case for why bringing a climate lens to the Navy’s work is important for the warfighter important for the core mission of the military I think it’s disappointing to take that off the table,” Erin Sikorsky director of the Center for Climate and Security         Sign up for our daily newsletter so you never miss a beat on all things federal then you’re just creating a very expensive headache down the road because you know that these hazards will continue to come whether we talk about climate change or not former assistant Navy secretary for energy spearheaded the effort during the Biden administration Berger explained that building climate resilience means addressing how extreme weather events impact training and making electric and utility systems more resilient so they can withstand storms and other disruptions The cancellation of the Navy’s climate action program comes amid a broader Defense Department effort to eliminate climate-related programs and studies Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made it a priority to eliminate climate-related initiatives across the Pentagon “The Department of Defense does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting.” Hegseth wrote on social media platform X in March the Defense Department announced it canceled more than 90 studies within the portfolio of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Some of those studies were related to “global migration patterns climate change impacts and social trends,” according to a statement from the Defense Department The Pentagon said canceling those studies saved the DoD $30 million Hegseth said he terminated a set of 11 contracts across the department for consulting services that support climate and diversity “I will note that last month the Secretary gave some indication saying that doesn’t mean we’re not going to do extreme weather prediction or that we’re not going to be concerned with the resilience of our bases.’ So I think it seems like there’s an ongoing conversation When you say we’re not doing climate what does that actually mean?” Sikorsky said         Read more: Defense Retired State Supreme Court Justice and Author Mary Werner dies at 91 New York State Supreme Court Justice (retired) Mary Margaret Phelan Werner she was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Dr She is survived by her children: Larry (Tamara Branson) Werner of Bellport Paul (Susan Abeles) Werner of Roslyn Harbor so many wonderful nieces and nephews and godchildren She would want all to know of her deep love of the McCormack children John’s University Teachers’ College (where she met her husband) She left school to marry the love of her life in March of 1955 while he was still attending Cornell Medical School When her husband finished medical school and became an Air Force Captain they were shipped out to the Philippine Islands for his first duty with their three small children and they welcomed 3 more children.    They had the blessing of choosing Dogwood Drive as their new neighborhood only to discover the best neighbors and lifelong friends in the Kinneys the Priebes and the O’Briens to this amazing family of friends The support of these families over the remainder of her life allowed all that followed to happen.  Mary “enjoyed” all the challenges of raising 7 children as (what was then called) a housewife After the children had reached a level of independence Mary went back to school earning her undergraduate degree from Dowling College and then her law degree from St She worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office working cases first in the District Court Bureau She eventually became the Family Crime Bureau Chief After 14 years in the District Attorney’s Office she was appointed then elected to the New York State Supreme Court as a judge She ended her distinguished career as the Administrative Judge of the Suffolk County Courts.  Mary received many honors and awards for her work with abused women and children culminating with being named a “Visionary Woman of Justice” in 2019 by Long Island’s top Bar Associations.  Mary has sat on the Boards of numerous organizations including the Bar Association of Suffolk County the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association John’s Law School Alumni Association She was a founder and served as President of the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association.    Mary retired from the bench and became an active member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University where she took a Memoir Writing Class Kraminson Days: From White Gloves to Black Robes and Beyond is a result of the memoirs written in this class and subsequent classes and is still available for purchase on Amazon.  Mary enjoyed keeping up with her 7 children and their spouses 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren spending time with some of the best friends anyone could ever have and reading all the great works of other authors.    This religious community of men and women serve the needs of poor people in the Bronx A collision between a motorcycle and a car in Phelan on Thursday afternoon left a Piñon Hills father dead according to California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino County coroner's offiials He was riding a 2018 Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Phelan Road A 2014 Honda Civic was making a left turn from westbound Phelan Road onto Lebec Road the rider of the Harley-Davidson attempted to pass traffic at the intersection and collided with the left side of the Honda Civic within the intersection," the CHP said in a written statement The driver of the Honda was treated for injuries described by the CHP as non-life-threatening A statement accompanying a fundraiser set up on GoFundMe.com to help Workman's family said he was reacting to traffic when the crash occurred "He was taken from us all too soon doing one of the things he loved so much when a car pulled out in front of him," the statement said and the type of person who would drop everything to help a friend in need," according to the statement Help Josh Workman's family after tragic loss The fundraiser received more than $22,000 in community donations within 17 hours of being established More: Suspect jailed, accused of murder in Victorville hit-and-run is asked to contact the CHP's Victorville Office at (760) 241-1186 The Presidential Prayer Team is a 501c(3) organization We are rated by two national accreditation groups and undergo an annual independent audit to ensure accountability — The Department of the Navy is taking a look at its contracts and preparing for an acquisition system review under its new leader in the Trump administration “I intend to bring a huge focus to the Department of the Navy’s procurement and acquisition strategy,” Phelan said Wednesday at the Sea-Air-Space conference “I will ensure we will receive the appropriate risk-adjusted rate of return on our investments,” he said Our military must operate at optimal efficiency maximizing its resources to ensure that every American tax dollar spent delivers results that strengthen our defense.” Phelan cited underinvestment in workforce and manufacturing capacity “gold-plated” requirements and bureaucratic decision-making as problems that have led to huge cost overruns extremely late deliveries and maintenance issues 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 We will restore and maintain operational readiness and fiscal responsibility,” he said Wednesday at the conference He added: “We are currently in the early stages of reviewing all of our contracts and also understanding how the decision process works I’m still trying to understand why things take as long as they do I’m trying to understand why they cost as much as they do I see numbers on things that are eye-opening to me.” Phelan noted that he intends to meet with the Navy’s major contractors as well as other companies that would like to do business with the organization The department needs to encourage more competition in the industrial base and expedite some of its acquisition processes to make things easier the department will also be “moving to a philosophy of more shared risk” with industry “We demand a lot from the shipbuilding industry from the private sector — and the private sector gets things in return And I think that you’ve got to determine what is fair and what is right And if we’re being too demanding and too exacting then they should be compensated for the risk we’re asking them to take we need to make sure that we’re being adequately compensated for the risks we’re taking and we’re getting what we ask for So I think there’s got to be an equal balance a more fair-partnership approach with the shipbuilding industry,” he said Phelan isn’t the only senior official pushing for efficiencies. The Trump administration’s DOGE team is already reviewing the service’s software enterprise. “It’s all about making the right investments in modernizing but modernizing with an eye towards effectiveness and efficiency We’ve got the DOGE in working with us and they’re focused on effective consumption of commercial software Are we doing the best job we can deliver in buying and utilizing the software that we have So I think the Department of Defense spends like $5.2 billion on just software And how can we make sure that we’re buying it effectively and getting the biggest bang for our buck … out of that consumption?” Navy Chief Information Officer Jane Rathbun said Tuesday at the Sea-Air-Space conference Navy Secretary John Phelan said the contract represents $300 million in total contract value which he estimates will save the Navy $260 million Navy Secretary John Phelan has terminated a human resources modernization contract tied to the MyNavyHR Transformation Initiative as it “no longer aligns with the service’s financial efficiency priorities.” “Today I am signing an order canceling an implementation of an obsolete and redundant online portal the Navy no longer needs,” Phelan said on social media platform X A memo signed on April 29 does not identify the contract slated for termination but Phelan said the contract cancelation represents $300 million in total contract value which he estimates will save the Navy $260 million over the remaining 4.5 years “These funds can be repurposed to address critical Navy priorities enhancing our operational readiness,” Phelan said in the memo obtained by Federal News Network “I commend the Navy leaders who identified this opportunity to eliminate inefficient spending I encourage leaders across the DON to continue identifying similar opportunities to optimize resources and reinvest in mission-critical needs.”         Find out what steps agencies should take to better protect OT systems in our latest Executive Briefing Phelan also directed Navy Chief Information Officer Jane Rathbun to develop a new acquisition strategy by July 31 along with a management review of the Navy’s HR systems requirements to “ensure operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility.” The MyNavyHR Transformation Initiative is the Navy’s ambitious effort to modernize its human resources IT systems and processes — its primary goal is to improve HR experience for sailors by consolidating 55 disparate Key components of the initiative include MyNavy Portal Enterprise Customer Relationship Management which aims to transform how the Navy manages sailors’ pay has faced a number of challenges in recent years The move to cancel a MyNavyHR contract is part of a broader push to slash initiatives the Defense Department and the Trump administration consider wasteful. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the termination of several IT services contracts that can be handled by the department’s civilian workforce or fulfilled directly with existing procurement resources The memo also comes after Phelan ordered the termination of the current contracts under the service’s Naval Maintenance Repair and Overhaul logistics program in a separate memo The program was the service’s ambitious effort to transform how the Navy managed the maintenance of its ships “The NMRO logistics program is critical software for the Navy for five years systems integrators have over-engineered the software to the point where it is unusable This will allow the program office to apply the savings towards a new strategy to meet our needs,” Phelan said in the memo the canceled IT contracts represent more than $568 million in total value Their termination is expected to allow the Navy to repurpose up to $200 million.” Phelan ordered the termination of a set 45 grants and contracts related to climate change social science and “other activities which are not aligned with DoD and DoN priorities,” a separate memo from April 24 states Phelan said “examples” of the cancelled research and activities include: These 45 terminations represent over $87 million in total award value “I direct the assistant secretary of the Navy for research development and acquisition to work with the contracting offices responsible for these grant and contract awards to ensure immediate cancellation and prompt disposition of remaining funds and associated activities in accordance with this order,” Phelan said The memo canceling DEI and climate-related contracts comes after Phelan scrapped the service’s climate action 2030 program, saying the service “will no longer be sidetracked by climate-focused decision-making.” (VVNG.com) — A federal jury has ruled in favor of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in a lawsuit filed by a Phelan man who resisted arrest and struck a deputy during a 2022 incident The case stemmed from an encounter on June 14 when Deputy Martinez responded to a report of a stolen postal van in the area of Del Rosa Road in Phelan According to a written statement released by the Sheriff’s Department “Deputy Martinez lawfully detained Michael Bowman Officials said the deputy used “reasonable force to gain control of the situation and ensure the safety of everyone present.” Bowman filed a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force and civil rights violations against the County with the jury returning a verdict in favor of the defendants the jury determined that Deputy Martinez acted “lawfully “The verdict confirms what the evidence clearly demonstrated,” the department stated “We are grateful that both the facts and the law prevailed.” The Sheriff’s Department reaffirmed its commitment to public service and accountability “We stand firmly behind Deputy Martinez’s professionalism during this incident and remain dedicated to transparency and protecting the rights of the community we serve.” No criminal charges were filed against Bowman in connection to the alleged assault on the deputy 🔗 For more local news, visit VVNG.com. At VVNG, we’re dedicated to keeping the Victor Valley informed with essential, community-driven journalism. Our newsroom works tirelessly to bring you the latest stories that matter—news that fosters awareness, engagement, and connection in the High Desert. If you value our reporting and want to see it continue, consider becoming a monthly supporter. Your contribution helps keep independent, local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community. (VVNG.com) — The motorcyclist critically injured in a crash on Phelan Road Thursday afternoon has died The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Division identified the victim as 39-year-old Joshua Workman The crash was reported at about 1:27 p.m directly in front of El Patron Family Restaurant According to preliminary information from the California Highway Patrol Workman was riding a 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Glide westbound when he collided with a black Honda Civic that was preparing to make a left turn onto Lebec Road Workman was transported by ground ambulance to Providence St where he was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival suffered injuries that were reported as non-life-threatening The crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol Victorville Station Anyone with information is asked to call (760) 241-1186 “Working with leading shipyards like Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is essential to ensuring deployed U.S ships and systems remain fully operational in the Indo-Pacific,” said Secretary Phelan “Leveraging the expertise of these highly capable shipyards enables timely maintenance and repairs for our vessels to operate at peak performance This level of large-scale repair and maintenance capability strengthens our combat readiness sustains forward deployed operational presence The official statements focused on the Korean yard’s expertise in vessel maintenance and overhaul which it said is crucial to enhancing naval operational capabilities The yards however also highlighted their shipbuilding capabilities anxious to expand their naval work Hanwha Ocean was the first Korean yard to win maintenance contracts servicing two USN support vessels. It has completed an extended job for the dry cargo ship USNS Wally Schirra and is currently working on the replenishment oiler USNS Yukon Phelan was shown the progress and visited the Yukon.  The company also emphasized its experience in shipbuilding and its recent acquisition of the Philly Shipyard saying it stands ready to support America’s shipbuilding efforts Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim is reported to have discussed the goal of deeper cooperation in naval shipbuilding between Korea and the U.S the yard highlighted its construction of Aegis class destroyers (HD Hyundai) Earlier at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Phelan was shown the ROKS Jeongjo an Aegis class destroyer built by Hyundai and delivered to the Korean Navy in 2024 The vessel is currently undergoing a routine inspection which gave the yard the chance to highlight its experience saying it is the only Korean yard ready to build advanced destroyers “Based on HD Hyundai’s technological edge and shipbuilding capacity we are committed to contributing to the revival of America’s shipbuilding industry,” said HD Hyundai Executive Vice Chairman Chung Ku-sun He joined Phelan in signing the yard’s guest book and wrote “Let’s work together to rebuild America’s shipbuilding base.” HD Hyundai was certified in 2024 for the USN vessel maintenance program and is reported to be planning to bid for contracts this year It was also highlighted that the company recently completed an agreement with Hunting Ingalls Industries in the U.S to explore collaboration opportunities both for defense and commercial shipbuilding Phelan also met with South Korean government officials where he stressed the long relationship between the two countries He said the relationship fosters innovation During his visit to Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Secretary Phelan met with industry leaders to discuss vessel maintenance and overhaul capabilities crucial for enhancing naval operations “Working with leading shipyards like Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is essential to ensuring deployed U.S ships and systems remain fully operational in the Indo-Pacific,” Phelan stated highlighting how this collaboration strengthens combat readiness and maintains forward deployed presence In a notable expansion of Korean maritime presence in the United States, Hanwha Group completed a $100 million acquisition of Philly Shipyard in December 2024 becoming the first Korean shipbuilder to establish operations on U.S The visit comes as the Trump administration seeks to revitalize the domestic shipbuilding industry with potential support from Korea Navy and the Republic of Korea’s maritime industrial base… is a cornerstone of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthens the overall bond between our nations,” said Secretary Phelan This visit marks Phelan’s first tour of the Indo-Pacific region and aligns with broader initiatives supporting America’s maritime dominance Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran on Wednesday that it will face consequences for supporting the Houthis even as the United States has relaunched talks with Iran over its nuclear program Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Port of New York and New Jersey have revealed significant hazardous material compliance issues,.. For general inquiries and to contact us,please email: [email protected] To submit a story idea or contact our editors, please email: [email protected] For advertising opportunities contactEmail: [email protected]Phone: +1.805.704.2536 (VVNG.com) — Authorities have arrested a Phelan man in connection to a deadly hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a Victorville pedestrian last weekend identified as 59-year-old David Eugene Shynovick at a residence in the 13900 block of Middleton Road in Phelan According to the Victorville Police Department investigators determined that Shynovick was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Impala when he fatally struck Wilian Castro Vargas along Bear Valley Road near Mesa View Drive Emergency responders from the Victorville Police Department and American Medical Response arrived at the scene and located the victim the pedestrian was crossing Bear Valley Road when he was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound The vehicle that struck him had fled westbound on Bear Valley Road leaving investigators with few immediate leads detectives with the department’s Major Accident Investigation Team collected evidence suggesting that Shynovick was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Division assisted with the arrest Shynovick was booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto He is charged with PC 187(a) – Murder and VC 20001(a) – Felony Hit and Run Causing Injury or Death Court records show Shynovick is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Victorville Superior Court on April 24 The family of Wilian Castro Vargas is asking for the community’s support to help fulfill his final wish: to be returned to his loved ones in Mexico for burial According to a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Bring Wiliam Home After Tragic Hit-and-Run” created by his cousin Gabriela Vargas Wiliam had moved to the United States three years ago with one mission in mind: to provide for the family who raised him “He was always committed to sending money back home whenever he could,” she wrote Wiliam’s spirit remained strong—he kept pushing forward always working hard and dreaming of a better future.” The campaign shares that Wiliam was raised by his mother and grandmother in Mexico and that he lived a life defined by kindness he always put his family first,” said Gabriela the family is asking for the public’s help in raising $12,000 to cover the costs of transporting his body back to Mexico and giving him a proper funeral “Losing Wiliam so suddenly has left a deep void in our hearts,” Gabriela wrote we find comfort in knowing that we can honor his memory by bringing him back to his loved ones so they can say their final goodbyes.” Link to donate via the GoFundMe: Help Bring Wiliam Home After Tragic Hit-and-Run The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information related to the crash is urged to contact Deputy J. Tomasello or Deputy R. Anselm at the Victorville Police Station at (760) 241-2911. Anonymous tips may be submitted through the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME or online at www.wetip.com Related Article: Man Struck and Killed in Hit-and-Run on Bear Valley Road in Victorville, Authorities Seek Driver I'm taking a second look at new vehicles after living with them for a few days or as a make or model evolves The car I revisited is the 2025 GMC Acadia Denali AWD better when a new generation debuted last year as a 2024 model A 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed transmission replaced the less powerful 3.6L V6 that powered the previous model which Acadia shares with the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave features were added and a competent off-roading AT4 trim level was added The loaded Denali AWD I tested stickered at $63,015 GMC sold 13,257 Acadias in the first quarter of 2025 Acadia trim levels and pricesElevation: $42,900AT4: $51,200Denali: $53,900What I liked most the first time I drove the AcadiaSignificantly improved interior space particularly for the third-row seat and cargo The new interior features a 15-inch portrait-orientation touch screen It’s easier and cheaper to give all three brands using a family of vehicles the same instruments and controls but GMC spent the extra money to give owners the screen its research wanted not the landscape-oriented screen Chevy Traverse buyers prefer More: I love the 2024 GMC Hummer electric SUV. Nobody’s more surprised than me More: 2025 Ford Explorer will let you drive hands-free, videoconference — but not at same time but the move to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the smooth old V6 is audible under acceleration More sound insulation ― available in the Acadia’s platform mate This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Sign up for the Breaking Defense newsletter gives a speech over the pilot house 1MC to the crew of the world’s largest aircraft carrier Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly) WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Department of the Navy John Phelan has released two memos cancelling a slew of grants and contracts aimed at what he called “eliminating wasteful spending” in the DoD including those related to ship and aircraft maintenance software In the memo related to maintenance, Phelan directed the termination of all contracts under the DON’s Naval Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (NMRO) logistics program The NMRO program was established to help predict potential system failures on ships and aircraft using artificial intelligence digital twins and other predictive analytics This will allow the Program Office to apply the savings towards a new strategy to meet our needs,” Phelan wrote Defense prime Lockheed Martin and enterprise applications developer IFS were awarded the NMRO contracts in 2021 a Lockheed spokesperson said in a statement that “We welcome the opportunity to engage with the Navy on their assessment and new strategy and will continue to apply our expertise to ensure maintenance capabilities can be rapidly deployed to the U.S Naval Services to ensure mission readiness.”  Phelan wrote that collectively the IT contract cancellations represent over $568 million in total contract value, which he estimates will allow the Navy to “repurpose” up to $200 million in taxpayer funds in a “more effective manner.” Phelan also directed Navy Chief Information Officer Jane Rathbun to come up with a new acquisition strategy and a management review for the NMRO program by July 31 He wrote that “examples” of cancelled contracts include the following:  Additionally, earlier this week Phelan announced he’s rescinding a Navy plan focused on combating climate change established by the Biden administration Phelan said that the 45 terminations announced Thursday represent over $87 million in total award value which he says will save up to $41 million in taxpayer funds that the Navy can “better apply to critical  priorities.”  At the end of the memo he called for the assistant secretary of the Navy for Research and Acquisition to collaborate with the contracting offices in charge of the grants and contracts to “ensure  immediate cancellation and prompt disposition of remaining funds and associated activities in  accordance with this order.” Hegseth claimed the contract terminations called out in the April 10 memo will save the department over $5 billion UPDATED 4/26/25 at 1:26 pm ET with comment from Lockheed Martin A new Collins Aerospace system enhances U.S The defense secretary said the US must “cultivate exceptional senior leaders who drive innovation and operational excellence unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness.” The demand for rocket motors for missiles is acute with steps being taken to expand domestic production that includes more international cooperation These expeditionary systems provide new layers of defense against evolving threats and enable non-kinetic attack Sign up and get Breaking Defense news in your inbox The open QGroundControl software for drone control was improved with a fusion engine to integrate sensors and controls Chris Beard Named Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year3/31/2025 | Men's Basketball President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S Navy John Phelan listens during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on February 27 SEA AIR SPACE 2025 — In his first major address to industry, Navy Secretary John Phelan promised to use his business acumen to break through the Navy’s “rigid adherence to the old way of doing things” that has led to “complacency “We have to really change the way that we buy things. Change the way we make decisions. We have to be quicker,” he told attendees at the Sea Air Space Exposition today The new secretary was confirmed by the Senate last month and spent the first weeks in the job touring facilities at Quonset Point President Donald Trump’s nominee to be under secretary of the Navy is a relative unknown to the Navy community and its industrial base Today’s speech was his first major address to industry in Washington beyond his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation Interlaced with occasional jokes about underestimating the complexity of the job he’s taken on as well as references to historical Navy icons like Adm Phelan focused mostly on using his business background to reform the Navy’s own way of doing business He said he was at the early stages of reviewing the service’s current contracts and plans to bring a “huge focus” to acquisition and procurement strategies “As the former Chief of Naval Operations Adm ‘I don’t give a damn where an idea comes from all I care about it whether it works or not,'” Phelan said.”That’s the approach I’m bringing to this office.” Phelan said one example of questionable procurement is seeing the state of a barracks and comparing it to a hotel he previously built for what he described as significantly less “That [hotel] has some marble and that has some pretty nice things in it I’m trying to understand how we can get to those numbers,” he said Phelan’s audience was a who’s who of the Navy community Among those in the audience were active duty and retired admirals former chiefs of naval operations and shipbuilding executives from many of the public and private shipyards Phelan promised he’d visit in the coming weeks Perhaps in a nod to some of those in uniform sitting just a few feet away when asked about his plans for rectifying shipbuilding and maintenance delays Phelan joked the questioner should “ask all the admirals,” before adding he is still new to the job Corrected 4/15/2025 at 11:17 am ET: The original version of this story incorrectly identified dollar values associated with Phelan’s comments about the Navy’s barracks (VVNG.com) — The family of Joshua Workman the 39-year-old motorcyclist who tragically died following a crash on Phelan Road has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help his wife and two children in the wake of his sudden passing Josh was critically injured in a collision Thursday afternoon in front of El Patron Family Restaurant in Phelan he was later pronounced deceased at Providence St his family is asking for the community’s support and the type of person who would drop everything to help a friend in need,” reads the GoFundMe description he was taken from us all too soon doing one of the things he loved so much riding his Harley when a car pulled out in front of him.” organized by John and Shannon Gunderson of Pinon Hills highlights the financial challenges now facing the Workman family: “We all know money can never replace a person with a heart as big as Josh’s but his family also cannot survive without it… the mortgage and McKenzie all need time to grieve and take life one day at a time.” the GoFundMe had raised over $22,000 toward a $35,000 goal Josh was well known in the community for his big heart and fierce love for his family — traits reflected in the many photos shared by loved ones on the fundraiser page House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday announced he is dropping his bid for another term leading the lower chamber monthslong intraparty push to remove him from power had previously insisted he had enough votes to thwart a challenge from the right led by state Rep “Out of deep respect for this institution and its members and after careful consideration and private consultation with colleagues I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the Texas House," he said in a statement I believe we create the best opportunity for our members to rally around a new candidate who will uphold the principles that make our House one of the most exceptional deliberative legislative bodies in the country—a place where honor and the right of every member to vote their district takes utmost precedent." Phelan abandoned the race one day before a scheduled meeting where Republicans are set to pick their nominee for the gavel Phelan’s withdrawal sets up a renewed scramble for control of the House a Lubbock Republican and top ally of Phelan according to two sources familiar with the matter His path to the gavel rests on courting the chamber’s 62 Democrats and roughly 40 unpledged Republicans — and reports of his candidacy were already drawing swift pushback from Cook’s camp and grassroots GOP activists who are set on selecting a speaker without relying on votes from Democrats Phelan was looking to the bloc of Democrats and uncommitted Republicans to secure a third term as speaker But he never produced a list of supporters while Cook gained fresh momentum this week by picking up two new backers bringing him within striking distance of the votes needed to lock up the GOP caucus’ endorsement this weekend whoever gets 60% or more of the votes at Saturday’s meeting will secure the group’s endorsement and receive support from all 88 Republican members when the vote goes to the full House in January — enough to win the gavel David Spiller of Jacksboro and Trent Ashby of Lufkin this week putting him four votes shy of the 60% threshold The Texas House speaker is one of the most powerful legislative positions in the state wielding tremendous power over which bills pass and fail Phelan said he was grateful to the “principled conservatives” who continued to support his speakership by showing “steadfast resolve and courage in the face of immense intimidation from outsiders wishing to influence our chamber and its processes.” “Though the battle for my speakership is over the war for the integrity of this chamber wages on — and we will win,” Phelan said Phelan’s withdrawal comes just two years after he was at the height of his power easily winning reelection as House leader after overseeing one of the most conservative sessions in recent memory he oversaw passage of a litany of conservative priorities including allowing permitless carry of handguns testing the boundaries of Texas’ role in immigration enforcement and banning nearly all abortions statewide At the closed-door GOP caucus meeting before the 2023 session Phelan’s critics mustered up just six votes for his conservative challenger Phelan started to lose his grip on the House last year when Attorney General Ken Paxton — months after being impeached on corruption charges in the lower chamber — survived his trial in the Senate The acquittal was a major rebuke of Phelan Paxton and his far-right allies vowed payback against the speaker and any Republican who voted for impeachment Phelan’s standing took a hit among supporters of Gov Greg Abbott’s push to enact a school voucher program some of whom accused the speaker of not doing enough to get the bill through the House.Phelan narrowly survived a brutal primary challenge in May but 15 other House Republicans lost their seats many of them Phelan supporters who were ousted by challengers running on explicit pledges to oppose the Beaumont Republican’s speakership Some of these insurgent candidates also received financial support from Abbott who remained publicly neutral in Phelan’s race while spending millions to unseat anti-voucher Republicans who sank his priority issue Most incoming GOP freshmen are part of a coalition that wants to reshape the chamber by disempowering Democrats and weakening key levers of power used by the speaker to control the House They have called for an end to the practice of appointing Democrats to chair any House committees — a longstanding tradition Phelan has continued by putting Democrats in charge of eight of the chamber’s 34 standing committees while reserving most of the high-profile assignments for Republicans They also want to ensure that GOP priority bills reach the floor before any Democratic measures and limit the speaker to two terms Dan Patrick and the rest of the GOP’s most conservative faction could have a willing ally in driving a hardline agenda through the Legislature has sparred bitterly with Phelan over property tax relief and a host of other issues frequently casting Phelan as a feckless capitulator to Democrats who slow-walked conservative priorities approved by the Senate The feuding culminated in Patrick’s attempt to end Phelan’s political career by backing his top primary challenger earlier this year After eking out a 366-vote win in the May runoff Phelan insisted he would hold onto the gavel telling supporters that “I will be your state rep for HD 21 and I will be your speaker for the Texas House in 2025.” He had remained defiant in the months since even as he faced a mounting lineup of speaker challengers that included some of his former allies Though a majority of House Republicans eventually coalesced behind Cook nearly half the caucus remained silent about their votes with some publicly vouching for Phelan’s conservative bona fides But while Phelan has shepherded the passage of key conservative priorities once seen as a bridge too far for some Republicans his critics have also pointed to a number of hardline priorities that died in the House which could face better odds of passage under a new speaker include school vouchers; expanding state control of elections in Democrat-run counties; barring the sale of Texas farmland to citizens and entities associated with China and other countries; and various laws aimed at infusing more Christianity into public life the House Democratic Caucus issued a statement saying that “[f]or any Speaker candidate interested in serving the House the Democratic Caucus is available to listen and hear their plans to finally give Texans a legislative session that puts people over politics." “Working Texans deserve a leader in the House who will stand up for them, and not do the bidding of corporate donors,” Ramos posted on social media along with a video of her sparring with Burrows on the House floor over his measure dubbed by opponents as the “Death Star bill.” who has amplified the voice of the party’s most conservative activists in calling for a ban on Democratic chairs pushed Republican lawmakers to vote for a speaker candidate who would honor that commitment “Now that Speaker [Phelan] is no longer in the race, it's time for every Republican representative who has yet to back a reformer to answer a straightforward question: Will you stand with your constituents and [the Texas GOP] or will you continue to enable Democrats to hold power?” George said on social media He followed that question with a not-so-veiled threat: “Keep in mind Lawmakers in Cook’s camp celebrated Phelan’s announcement and immediately tried to push back against the notion that a new candidate could win over their support “Phase One accomplished,” Rep.-elect Shelley Luther wrote on social media first secured the votes to become speaker toward the end of his third term He emerged from a GOP scrum to succeed then-Speaker Dennis Bonnen who retired after losing support from House members after he was recorded encouraging the political targeting of fellow Republicans in the upcoming primaries Phelan nonetheless secured the gavel with the backing of a more conservative GOP faction led by Bonnen’s allies a group pitted against more ideologically moderate members who had helped drive Bonnen into retirement amid his recording scandal But what helped Phelan lock down the speaker’s race was his support from a coalition of Democrats who backed him after he told them he “would do his best to make sure we are on track” when asked how he would handle contentious social issues While far less controversial at the time, Phelan’s Democrat-aided ascent sparked backlash from some on the far-right — a sign of what was to come four years later. After Phelan announced he had the votes to become speaker, then-Texas GOP Chair Allen West wrote in an email to supporters that the party "will not support calling him a “Republican political traitor” for relying on support from Democrats Choose an amount or learn more about membership President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next secretary of the Navy told Senate lawmakers that he sees opportunities for joint technology development on next-generation capabilities to support manned and unmanned platforms “I understand that the F/A-XX next-generation [fighter] aircraft offering significant advancements in operational reach and capacity within contested environments is intended to enable Carrier Strike Groups to outpace adversaries while maintaining naval air dominance and Air Force are collaborating closely to ensure interoperability through shared enabling technologies like autonomy encompassing both manned and unmanned platforms including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) will maximize operational effectiveness and flexibility across the services,” Phelan wrote in response to advance policy questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing Thursday aligning technology development and operational requirements will ensure the Services are poised to fully leverage next-generation unmanned systems ultimately enhancing capabilities and long-range mission effectiveness,” he added The Pentagon envisions highly autonomous CCA drones serving as robotic wingmen to manned fighter jets or performing separate missions. The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are each pursuing their own variants which they hope to field in the coming years The Air Force is widely seen as being ahead of the other branches in their pursuit of these types of platforms Phelan told lawmakers that he would advocate for “smart investments” in the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program highlighting the need to foster industry competition accelerating timelines and maintaining the Navy’s technological superiority He also noted that he would prioritize “timely” modifications to Nimitz-class aircraft carriers for unmanned system integration Defense officials have expressed a desire to ensure interoperability between the services’ future crewed and uncrewed systems Phelan — who has never served in the military — endorsed that idea in his comments to senators Marine Corps and Air Force are aligned on key enabling technologies and communication and command architecture This alignment ensures that both manned and unmanned platforms can operate effectively together enhancing interoperability across branches I will commit to continue collaboration with the other services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense to ensure that systems are compatible and ready to integrate seamlessly in joint operations supporting interservice coordination and maximizing mission effectiveness,” he wrote The Navy isn’t just looking to field next-gen unmanned aerial systems It’s also pursuing new unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles as it works to build a so-called hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed platforms Accelerating the fielding of those types of systems to deter China in the Indo-Pacific was part of Franchetti’s Project 33 and CNO Navigation Plan which she unveiled a few months before she got fired The Navy has also been playing a key role in the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative which was launched during the Biden administration with the goal of fielding thousands of “all-domain attritable autonomous systems” by August 2025 The sea service has also set up new organizations, such as Task Force 59 and robo-ship squadrons to work through concepts of operation and other issues that need to be addressed Phelan didn’t refer to Replicator by name in his written comments to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee but he suggested that he’s in favor of those types of efforts “The unique capabilities that unmanned systems bring to the naval and joint force are a tremendous force multiplier and I believe the Department of the Navy should appropriately and adequately resource the right solutions and doctrine personnel and facilities that support these capabilities There can be no dispute that unmanned systems are now very much part of the landscape of modern war,” he wrote “Also revealed is the rapid pace of innovation for these systems as well as the rapid operational adoption of the evolving systems in battle,” he added I will thoroughly examine this issue to ensure the Department of the Navy investments are properly prioritized in this area by ensuring appropriate system selection through early This will include championing joint investment in enabling technologies like autonomy and communications to guarantee interoperability across services and with coalition partners for example through ongoing all-domain attritable autonomous systems efforts.” Phelan is the second of Trump’s service secretary nominees during his second term to have a confirmation hearing. Earlier this week, Daniel Driscoll was confirmed as secretary of the Army. A confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick for Air Force secretary, Troy Meink Trump’s nominee for deputy defense secretary, Stephen Feinberg  Thursday, Feb 27, 2025John Phelan, President Donald Trump's nominee for Navy secretary, speaks before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP)President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Navy on Thursday asserted that the service is in desperate need of reform and promised to bring his outside business experience to the task of refocusing and reenergizing naval operations “The U.S. Navy is at crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates,” businessman John Phelan told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing for the top civilian Navy post “These are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long Phelan, founder of the private investment firm Rugger Management and a major donor for Trump’s reelection campaign, acknowledged lawmakers’ concerns about his lack of military experience during his appearance before the committee. He never served in the ranks and has not been involved with civilian management of the military forces in the past “The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks,” he said “My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach every maintenance backlog and every inefficiency is an opening for our adversaries to challenge our dominance Phelan’s pitch drew mixed results from lawmakers on the committee “While you clearly have experience managing large companies you do not have any significant experience with the U.S Navy or the military at large,” cautioned Sen “You will have to quickly learn a great deal about a complex organization including its hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines while the service faces growing international threats and internal challenges.” He listed his top three priorities as ensuring the health and welfare of service members strengthening naval capabilities and “fostering adaptive accountable and innovative warfighter culture” within the services He suggested the Navy and Marine Corps could do better with digital recruiting efforts, and plans to focus on that as part of a broader recruiting and retention push Phelan also promised to look into the potential impact of looming civilian employee cuts throughout the Defense Department although he deferred to comment specifically on moves already announced by Pentagon leaders The Navy Secretary nominee is expected to be approved by the Republican-controlled committee sometime in early March A full Senate confirmation vote could take several weeks based on delays from a rush of nominees seeking full-chamber approval Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times focusing on military personnel and veterans policies the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall football coach Michael Phelan has been elevated to the 40th head coach in the history of the Diplomats' prestigious football program as announced by Director of Athletics & Recreation Lauren Packer Webster Making an immediate impact on the team's success Phelan has helped the Diplomats' climb the Centennial Conference standings during the past three seasons headlined by back-to-back postseason victories in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series "I am thrilled to be named the head football coach at Franklin & Marshall College," said Phelan. "I want to thank Director of Athletics and Recreation Lauren Packer Webster Vice President of Student Affairs Drew Stelljes and the F&M administration for their trust and support I am excited to get to work with our student-athletes and staff as we continue the proud tradition of Franklin & Marshall Football." Since assuming the role of defensive coordinator when he joined the staff for the 2022 season Phelan's unit has consistently ranked among the top defenses in all of Division III and the Centennial Conference The defense improved every season under Phelan who was named one of the top defensive coordinators in the entire region by numerous rankings outlets following the 2024 season The Franklin & Marshall defense ranked fourth in Division III in yards allowed per game (227.1) this past season while allowing just 13.1 points per game The Diplomats were also seventh nationally in first downs allowed (143) and ninth in rushing yards allowed per game (62.3) during a season that was capped with a 7-0 bowl victory against Delaware Valley "Coach Phelan knows every detail of our football program has built strong connections with our students and prospective students in his role as recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator," stated Packer Webster "His love for F&M and our students' success is unwavering He's incredibly dedicated and committed to build upon the existing foundation for continued program success." Phelan mentored 17 All-Centennial Conference players on the defensive side of the ball during his three seasons as a coordinator at F&M That group of standout individuals includes All-American Justin Gerhart '24 who led all of Division III in interceptions during the 2022 season to become the Diplomats' first All-American in nine years F&M ranked among the top 20 teams in the country for total interceptions and had one of the top performing units in turnover margin Franklin & Marshall has ranked in the top 25 nationally in passing efficiency defense Those defensive efforts have helped the Diplomats compile a 21-11 record including an 11-8 mark in Centennial Conference contests Phelan has additionally brought immense talent to Lancaster while overseeing the team's recruiting efforts Phelan led recruiting efforts that brought over 30 talented scholar-athletes to the Diplomats Many of those players have gone on to make an instant impact during the back-to-back bowl series victories Those student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom with 62 Diplomats being named to Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll since the start of the 2022 season Phelan joined the F&M staff after spending three years coaching at his alma mater Phelan earned the promotion to Special Teams Coach/Recruiting Coordinator during the 2021 season before joining the Diplomats' coaching staff the following year The Saints made tremendous strides during Phelan's tenure and became increasingly competitive in a strong Liberty League Working with the defense during the 2019 season Lawrence more than double its win total from the previous season while making significant statistical improvements in points allowed the defense came away with 14 interceptions as six of the team's 11 all-conference selections came from the defensive side of the ball Taking over the special teams for the 2021 season the Saints ranked in the top five nationally in both kick return and punt return defense while seven players were selected to the All-Liberty League team Phelan served as a graduate assistant with Castleton University for the 2017 and 2018 seasons where he worked with the team's wide receivers In addition to his coaching responsibilities Phelan earned his master's degree in athletic leadership while at Castleton Phelan was part of a Saints' defense that led the nation in team passing efficiency defense as a senior in 2014 Lawrence attain a top-10 national ranking in total defense After obtaining his undergraduate degree in government in 2015 Phelan went on to earn his master's degree in educational leadership from St What they are saying about Coach Phelan's Hiring "Coach Phelan is an outstanding football coach and an even better person He is the ideal leader to guide F&M Football into an exciting new chapter Coach Phelan cares deeply for each student-athlete he coaches helping them improve every step of the way." Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here  Monday, Mar 24, 2025John Phelan (left) was confirmed as secretary of the Navy on March 24. (Rod Lamkey Jr./AP)The Senate on Monday confirmed John Phelan to serve as the next secretary of the Navy making him only the seventh non-veteran to serve in the role in the last 70 years Phelan founder of the private investment firm Rugger Management LLC was confirmed by a 62-30 vote with nearly all of his support coming from Republicans He is expected to be sworn into the military leadership role in the next few days Phelan was the first service secretary pick to be announced by Trump but the second to be confirmed. Last month, lawmakers approved Daniel Driscoll as Army secretary by a similar 66-28 partisan vote Phelan testified that he saw the Navy as a service in desperate need of reform and innovation record high suicide rates,” he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee He also argued that his lack of military experience was an asset to his role leading the Navy because of his ability to reject “traditional” military thinking step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach.” former Virginia Senate candidate and Navy special operations veteran Hung Cao was nominated as under secretary of the Navy giving Phelan a veteran with significant Navy experience as his top deputy The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to hold a confirmation hearing this week for Trump’s third service secretary pick The Navy is currently without an official in its top uniformed leadership post was dismissed by Trump last month in a Pentagon leadership purge President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Navy says his background makes him the right candidate to fix the issues that have plagued the service President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Navy the founder of private investment firm Rugger Management told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that his experience overseeing and funding large companies and “transforming organizations by fostering accountability and implementing strategic reforms” makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Navy “The Navy and the Marine Corps historically have embodied resilience I’ve analyzed thousands of organizations A common refrain among those that are failing is that this is how we’ve always done it,” said Phelan “There is great value in stability and tradition it erodes an organization’s ability to win I understand that some may question why a businessman who did not wear the uniform should lead the Navy The Navy and the Marine Corps already possess extraordinary operational expertise within their ranks My role is to utilize that expertise and strengthen it to step outside the status quo and take decisive action with a results-oriented approach.” He said the service is missing the sense of urgency as if it is “almost waiting for a crisis to happen.” I think why the President selected me is I will bring a sense of urgency to this I will bring a sense of accountability to this I’m good at setting up feedback loops I’m good at creating accountability and making sure people execute Phelan will be the first person in more than 15 years to serve as the secretary of the Navy without any prior military experience The last civilian to lead the Navy without military experience was Gordon England who served as the Navy secretary under President George Bush Phelan would take over for Carlos Del Toro a retired Navy officer who served in the military for over two decades Phelan’s only connection to the military comes from serving in an advisory role for the Spirit of America a nonprofit that provides assistance to Ukraine Phelan was also a major contributor to Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024 — in April he contributed over $800,000 to Trump’s joint fundraising committee later contributing an additional $93,300 to his campaign Despite Phelan’s background and lack of military experience members of Congress on both sides of the aisle were supportive of his nomination and his ability to shake things up and bring a fresh perspective to the Navy “You’re a nontraditional appointee for this position and that can be OK if the tradition is not working,” Sen Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said during the confirmation hearing “You’re nominated for a position where the tradition doesn’t seem to be working so that makes me intrigued with what you might do differently than has been done in the past when the President asked you to do the job.” And unlike previous confirmation hearings for the Pentagon’s top roles Phelan’s hearing was not contentious as lawmakers mainly addressed the challenges plaguing the Navy Senate Democrats pressed Phelan about the Pentagon’s decision to fire its 5,400 probationary employees Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) asked Phelan if given his extensive experience in the business world he would walk into an organization knowing that the decision had already been made to slash the workforce “It’s a hard question to answer because I think I don’t think any expert business person in your line of work would do it,” said Phelan “I don’t believe politicization should be in the military and I don’t believe those actions were politicization and I’ve not had any discussions around them.” Phelan mentioned he would focus on three key areas — personnel financial accountability and operational efficiency “I would advocate for bold recruitment and retention reforms cutting bureaucratic red tape and improving quality of life initiatives to attract and retain top talent A key component of this effort would be reinvigorating the Navy’s marketing strategy leveraging both traditional and digital platforms to better connect with today’s generation,” said Phelan “I would also drive operational modernization by leveraging emerging technologies enhancing warfighter training through AI and simulation and fostering a culture that prioritizes adaptability and mission effectiveness over rigid compliance.” John Phelan is set to take the helm as secretary of the Navy after the Senate confirmed him for the job Monday by a vote of 62-30 The SECNAV is the top civilian responsible for leading the Department of the Navy a businessman and co-founder of MSD Capital was nominated for the post by President Donald Trump Ahead of his confirmation hearing last month, Phelan told lawmakers that he planned to push for more investment in uncrewed systems and enabler technologies — such as autonomy mission systems and communications — for manned-unmanned teaming by the Navy and jointly with the other military services Phelan also noted the need for a variety of counter-drone tools, informed by recent Navy efforts to thwart attacks by the Houthis and protect military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea Some defense officials have said the military needs cheaper options for shooting down inexpensive adversary unmanned aerial systems “The Red Sea engagements provided valuable lessons While cost exchange ratios are a useful metric against low-cost threats they don’t encompass the full complexity of naval warfare I fully support a Captain utilizing the most effective means available to eliminate threats and protect their multibillion-dollar ship and crew we must provide them with a wider variety of reliable options beyond their current limited and costly solutions I will prioritize expanding development of layered ship defense capabilities and other innovative technologies,” Phelan wrote in response to advance policy questions from senators The Marines are also gung-ho about counter-drone tech, having recently awarded a $642 million contract to Anduril to deliver install and sustain a family of systems to protect its installations from small UAS Phelan also weighed in on digital threats that the department is confronting expressing his view that the top cyber challenges facing the Navy are securing defense critical infrastructure and weapon systems, increasing cyber force readiness and executing critical modernization efforts “Removing legacy information technology and hardening classified networks all contribute to modernizing the Department of the Navy the readiness of our military and civilian workforce is critical for achieving our priorities in cyberspace It is my understanding that the Navy and Marine Corps have made notable progress in strengthening cybersecurity and resiliency in operational technology environments and in improving the readiness of their personnel in the Cyber Mission Force [overseen by U.S the Department of the Navy recently delivered the first fully validated implementation of a true Zero Trust architecture in the Department of Defense I will expect the [Navy’s principal cyber adviser] to work closely with the Chief Information Officer and Navy and Marine Corps stakeholders to drive tangible outcomes in these areas,” he told lawmakers The department is also placing greater emphasis on information warfare he would request a detailed briefing on the Navy’s “information dominance” capabilities and determine resourcing workforce and innovation priorities to integrate into the joint force’s modernization efforts I will empower the Naval Information Warfare Community to recruit retain and promote the most skilled and qualified Sailors to train and conduct integrated fires to effectively deter and combat threats to our Nation These actions align to the Department of the Navy Cyber Strategy which calls for effective sequencing and synchronization of non-kinetic effects to generate decisive advantages,” he wrote “Congratulations John Phelan on being Confirmed as the 79th Secretary of the Navy!” Hegseth wrote in a post on X Monday evening “Looking forward to supporting our warfighters together.” Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning said the new SECNAV’s “business acumen will infuse the Navy with a strategic approach to expanding our fleet to meet deterrence needs across the world especially in the Indo-Pacific,” adding that his “commitment to readiness and efficiency aligns seamlessly with our industry’s priorities We look forward to collaborating with Secretary Phelan to ensure our Sailors are equipped with the finest equipment in the world.” Phelan’s confirmation marks the latest success by the Trump administration in filling high-level posts at the Pentagon However, other nominees for high-level Pentagon jobs have yet to be confirmed, such as Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Troy Meink as Air Force secretary It’s also uncertain who will be the next chief of naval operations working alongside Phelan to lead the sea service. Last month, Trump fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti as CNO and hasn’t nominated a replacement at 9:50 AM: This story has been updated to include comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning Christie Phelan (R) watches Chris Phelan throw out the first pitch before the start of the Corey's Promise Nassau-Suffolk softball challenge Corey Phelan would’ve loved the scene at Flynn Memorial Park in Commack on Thursday Eight softball teams from across Long Island filled the park’s four fields in the Corey’s Promise Softball Tournament a nonprofit organization run by Phelan’s parents with the mission to help families offset the financial burdens they endure during their child's cancer diagnosis and raise awareness for pediatric cancer Phelan was a 2020 Harborfields graduate who played professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies after a six-month battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia threw the tournament’s ceremonial first pitch accompanied by his wife “One of our missions is not only to raise money for pediatric cancer it’s also to spread awareness,” Chris Phelan said “When it starts to spread out into other sports like softball It just makes us feel like he isn’t forgotten His promise of helping families out and spreading the awareness of pediatric cancer is heartwarming.” The tournament was organized by Syosset coach David Anderson who used to coach baseball with Chris Phelan played baseball with Phelan at Flynn Memorial Park Anderson began reaching out to teams and planning the tournament in October I think it’s a great cause,” Anderson said “I also wanted to bring Nassau and Suffolk together to play because we rarely play each other I’ve met coaches today that I’ve never met before I think it’s something we should always do.” Thursday marked three years since Phelan was diagnosed with cancer “I have no doubt that he had something to do with bringing us here on this special day,” Christie Phelan said Each team wore different colored jerseys with “Corey’s Promise” on the front Syosset junior Ella Lanza and her family had the jerseys made and delivered to all the teams “It shows how the softball community can come together for such an amazing cause,” Lanza said “It shows that we’re playing for more than a game We’re playing for the families that need help and for the strength of Corey Each team played two non-league games while raffles were sold People who entered the raffle were given softballs the raffle baskets were spread across one of the fields The person that rolled their softball closest to each raffle basket won that basket Think about this: You come down with cancer and have not a lot of time to live and think about what you would think about ‘How can I help others?’ I just respect the heck out of that Phelan appeared in five games in 2021 with Philadelphia’s Florida Complex League affiliate pitching 9 2⁄3 innings and allowing one run Chris Phelan said that his son would go to college softball tournaments with his teammates in Clearwater “Corey wanted nothing more in life than to play baseball,” Chris Phelan said “To see the joy and happiness of these young women playing a sport for their school brings a smile to our faces because it makes us think of him… He just enjoyed being around sports The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months On any given day that the Legislature is in session a senator or a representative can be expected to stand up and speak with passion and conviction on a proposal that could have far-reaching implications across the state that senator or representative can expect that no minds will be changed on the chamber floor no matter how sound the argument or how forceful the delivery there's a reasonable expectation that most of the members of the House or Senate won't even be paying attention Something of a rare exception to all that occurred in the House last week during a floor debate on whether the use of doctored visuals falsely depicting the actions of political candidates should be publicly disclosed in a form along the lines of "I'm candidate so and so The legislation was House Bill 366 by state Rep the Beaumont Republican who this session returned as a rank-and-file member after spending four years as House speaker The bill has its roots in the 2024 Republican primary during which Phelan won renomination by the narrowest of margins as his opponent sought to link him with Democratic former U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and accused him of being a RINO A meme surfaced during the campaign purporting to show Phelan and Pelosi in a warm embrace It was actually a mashup of two unrelated images likely through the use of photo-manipulation software several conservative House members essentially accused Phelan of attempting to criminalize satire because the bill would make the failure to disclose such images as being doctored a Class A misdemeanor More: After bruising GOP primary, Dade Phelan faces renewed challenge for Texas House leadership saying the measure targets candidates and campaign operatives who would deceive voters with fake images that often look real Manuel's Southeast Texas House districts abuts Phelan's broadcast ads and digital ads blurred across the boundaries Manuel said the Pelosi-Phelan meme was mild compared with some of the other noise and literature that surfaced during the runoff between the then-speaker and challenger David Covey it's the meanness that permeates our politics Much of that meanness in last year's primary was rooted in Phelan's decision as speaker to let members of the minority party chair some House committees and be part of the leadership team Some Republican activists saw that as a betrayal of GOP values More: Gov. Greg Abbott signs 'DOGE Bill' into law: 'Texas is getting too burdensome' neighbors feared neighbors and a lot of voters were left wondering who or what to believe "Speaker Phelan is going to be nice about this (but) you all don't know the hell that we went through with lies We signed up for this — 150 people in this darn room — but our mothers who is in his second term and represents a district that is safely Democratic said treating politics as a blood sport in which opponents are seen as enemies must end there were few visible side conversations on the House floor and most members remained in their desks and appeared to be facing Manuel "Don't give me any bull crap and tell me that we need to be distorting people's images "Don't make a mockery of our system and try to make this something that it's not," he said "This is not about protecting you and our petty egos our families and the people who will come after us." Phelan's bill passed by a comfortable — and bipartisan —102-40 margin It was not clear whether Manuel's speech changed any minds Phelan’s only connection to the military is through an advisory role for the Spirit of America a nonprofit that works with troops and diplomats to deliver assistance to communities affected by conflict China’s estimated 400-ship navy is already the largest in the world while the U.S Navy’s plan to have a fleet of 315 ships by 2025 has fallen short with the service having 296 battle-force ships as of January according to the Congressional Research Service “It’s almost as if we’re waiting for a crisis to happen to ignite things and I think in the business of warfare I would bring a sense of accountability to this.” Phelan said he would apply best practices from the Marine Corps which has consistently met its recruiting goals and his own experience attracting and retaining talent to improve enlistment numbers the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he considered Phelan’s nontraditional background an asset and was pleased with his track record in business “He has rescued companies in distress,” Wicker said “Our Navy is certainly in distress and we need that same kind of leadership.” Some Democrats were less fond of Phelan’s business background raised concerns about Phelan’s investments in defense contractors and pressed him in a letter this month to avoid any conflicts of interest while serving as Navy secretary and for at least four years after shakes hands with Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong in Washington on April 24 Get your daily fix of Air & Space Force news delivered right to your inbox every day There's no more reliable source for news about your Air & Space Forces Air & Space Forces Magazine is the official publication of the Air & Space Forces Association © 2025 West Virginia University Athletics Thanks for visiting Austin — House Bill 366 authored by Dade Phelan was heard at the State Affairs Committee Wednesday The bill specifically targets political advertising that features an “image or video recording of an officeholder’s or candidate’s appearance or conduct that did not occur in reality.” This broad language includes media altered using generative artificial intelligence technology The Texas Ethics Commission would have the authority to determine the specific format The bill tasks the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) with establishing via rulemaking the parameters of the disclosure requirement and then classifies an offense under the law as a Class A misdemeanor — punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000 By Nolan D. McCaskillAustin Bureau Correspondent lies and consequences in elections Wednesday as the Texas House considered a proposal to require disclosures on deceptive political advertising created with artificial intelligence The chamber voted 102-40 to send a bill to the Senate that would ban the use of AI in political ads “with the intent to influence an election” unless the ad conveys that what‘s portrayed did not occur in reality Former state House Speaker Dade Phelan’s House Bill 366 would require the disclosure of political advertising that uses generative AI technology to alter images audio or video of an officeholder or candidate Political PointsGet the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “I’d love for my forehead to be a little bit smaller a top GOP primary target last cycle for his performance as speaker in the previous legislative session countered that the legislation — down to the bill number — makes it appear to be a “personal vendetta.” Phelan won his primary runoff election last year by 366 votes The proposal would direct the Texas Ethics Commission to determine the proper form of disclosure A violation would be a class A misdemeanor Some Republicans said the bill makes the commission an “arbiter of truth” and that jail is too harsh of a penalty “Is it your goal to put someone in jail for political speech?” state Rep Phelan said the state has more than $3.6 million in uncollected campaign violation fines and dismissed a potential $500 punishment in an expensive campaign as a “rounding error” equivalent to the “cost of doing business.” “It is my goal to prevent someone from impacting or altering an election using fake media that never occurred in reality “You cannot distinguish between reality and this new technology He reiterated that the potential jail time is a range of zero days to a year candidates and political committees — or anyone who spends at least $100 in the aggregate on political advertising during a reporting period — would have to disclose the use of AI in deceptive advertising under Phelan’s bill Some legislators questioned whether that meant grassroots donors could face up to a year in jail for using AI in satirical content or memes Phelan said his proposal isn’t aimed at everyday social media users “Since the bill author says he doesn’t care about any memes I went through and looked through the bill again briefly,” state Rep “I was unable to find any exception in the bill for satire I’m really curious why it wasn’t in the bill A parody video by a radio show mocked Phelan last year portraying him as drunk while trying to record a campaign ad Campaign materials in his district falsely depicted him embracing former U.S and shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping Phelan filed several bills to reform Texas campaigns, including a proposal to limit out-of-state donors He said a class A misdemeanor “is a very common punishment when you’re dealing with something as important as an election” — particularly one that could be “stolen” in the 11th hour with a deceptively altered video “that could entirely change the nature of the electorate going into Election Day.” “I understand the heartburn on the penalty but it‘s the only way to get someone’s attention on something as serious as our elections.” The bill isn’t about stopping the public from making memes and won’t prevent politicians or elected officials from telling lies ‘Should you have to tell the truth?’ And for once “And I don’t understand … why there are people who would oppose being forced to tell the truth.” Supporters of the proposal said the disclosure requirement is no different than other required transparency “All this bill says is if you’re going to lie and you’re going to be a liar Phelan said images are often more powerful than words and it‘s not right to deceive voters in a way that could influence the outcome of an election of a new era in ethics where the voters need to know what is real and what is not,” Phelan said said it appears Phelan wants a new era “because you found out that when you live by the sword “I didn’t die by the sword,” Phelan said to light cheers and applause inside the chamber He is a graduate of Florida A&M University (VVNG.com) — A highly anticipated Starbucks will officially open its doors to the Phelan community on Friday This marks the first Starbucks location in Phelan a welcomed addition for residents eager for a local coffee spot The new Starbucks will be located at 9775 Sheep Creek Rd just north of Phelan Road and conveniently situated next to Rite Aid and an outside seating area for customers to enjoy their drinks while soaking up the local scenery a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held earlier today attended by local leaders and community members including Jennifer Nelson with the Phelan Chamber of Commerce They served friends and family today for an hour and it didn’t take any time at all for everyone to get a drink—there were a lot of people there,” Nelson shared highlighting the efficiency of the team and the excitement in the air The store will open to the public at 4:30 AM on Friday and customers can enjoy their Starbucks favorites until 10 PM the new location will offer all the popular menu items seen at other Starbucks locations and a variety of breakfast options like the double-smoked bacon cheddar and egg sandwich and the bacon Starbucks is also featuring limited-time drinks and special items and the Spicy Falafel Pocket—a perfect complement to their winter bakery items such as their popular cake pops and other delicious sweets The grand opening of this Starbucks marks a new chapter for Phelan residents providing them with the convenience and comfort of their favorite coffee house right in their own backyard In addition to serving up freshly brewed coffee, Starbucks is looking to expand its team at the new location. They are currently hiring for both barista and shift supervisor positions The barista position (Store #72700) offers a starting hourly pay range of $20.25 to $22.99, with no prior experience required. For those with leadership experience, the shift supervisor role offers a starting hourly pay range of $25.72 to $29.19. Applications for both positions are open until March 24, 2025, and can be submitted through Starbucks.com Be sure to stop by this Friday to grab a cup of your favorite brew and celebrate the arrival of Starbucks in Phelan local news accessible to everyone—because an informed community is a stronger community.