{"id":50962,"date":"2026-01-14T15:47:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2026\/01\/14\/navy-must-take-risks-act-like-the-us-is-at-war-says-phelan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:23:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:23:23","slug":"navy-must-take-risks-act-like-the-us-is-at-war-says-phelan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2026\/01\/14\/navy-must-take-risks-act-like-the-us-is-at-war-says-phelan\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy must take risks, act like the US is at war, says Phelan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The head of the U.S. Navy spoke at a military conference Tuesday about the need for the service to prioritize speed and risk-taking to remain constantly prepared for an international armed conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy Secretary John Phelan delivered remarks at the 38th Annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Arlington, Virginia, and extolled the virtues of \u201cradical transparency,\u201d an end to \u201cstupid\u201d practices, rolling the dice on calculated risks and maintaining a posture that is ready for war at any time to better the service\u2019s current and future fleets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat results in accountability and moving from a compliance-based organization to a performance-based organization,\u201d Phelan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy secretary emphasized the importance of sculpting the service into an organization that did not penalize individuals for raising their hand and pointing out problems, instead welcoming a culture that prioritizes accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he noticed a desire within the Navy to change. Internal discussions within the service, according to Phelan, have noted that there is a problem with taking accountability, both with regard to the Navy and with Navy customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the Navy secretary is just as concerned with owning mistakes as taking swings that might lead to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phelan preached the importance of risk-taking by increasing production and ramping up shipbuilding efforts with a decreased fear of failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about his time before the Navy as a CEO and businessman responsible for founding several investment companies, Phelan said it became increasingly difficult to embrace risk as his companies grew larger and more successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite that hesitancy though, Phelan said he still tried to prioritize taking calculated, smart risks. Unconventional thinking and experimentation, for Phelan, were the foundations of success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same applies to the Navy, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Phelan, there is currently the notion that something has to be perfect \u2014 right out of the gate \u2014 once it is ready for testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn\u2019t have to be the case, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t