Bilden out of SECNAV nomination

Financier Philip Bilden has withdrawn his named Feb. 26 from consideration for Secretary of the Navy. In a statement, Bilden said he would be unable to meet the requirements of the Office of Government Ethics requirements for the position without “materially adverse divestment” of his family’s financial interests. Defense Secretary James Mattis said he would make a new recommendation to President Trump “in the coming days.” Bilden was formally nominated for SECNAV on Jan. 25 after conflicting media reports that former congressman Randy Forbes would likely get the job. Bilden was a former Army intelligence officer and Naval War College cyber-security leader. In recent years, he had been involved with the Navy through serving on the board of directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation and Naval War College Foundation. Additionally, one of his sons graduated from the Naval Academy and another is currently a midshipman. (Source: US Naval Institute News 02/26/17) Gulf Coast Note: Former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus was the last SECNAV.