Philip Bilden, a 25-year veteran of private equity firm HarbourVest Partners and former military intelligence officer at the U.S. Army Reserve, has been nominated to succeed Ray Mabus as secretary of the U.S. Navy.
“If confirmed, I will ensure that our sailors and marines have the resources they need to defend our interests around the globe and support our allies with commitment and capability,” Bilden said in a statement published Wednesday on the White House’s website.
He served in the Army Reserve for 10 years, then resigned from military service in 1996 to establish HarbourVest Partners’ Asian subsidiary in Hong Kong.
His more than two-decade career at the investment company includes roles such as co-founding member, senior adviser and head of executive committee focused on governance.
He currently serves on the philanthropic boards of multiple nonprofit organizations that support military veterans, cybersecurity and national security programs.
Bilden is a member of the board of visitors at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; board of directors at the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation; board of trustees at the Naval War College Foundation; and Asia Pacific advisory board and dean’s board of advisors at Harvard Business School.
