Philip Bilden, a former managing director at investment firm HarbourVest Partners, has emerged as a top candidate for secretary of the U.S. Navy in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, the Washington Post reported Friday.Josh Rogin cited a transition official as saying that Trump could nominate Bilden to succeed Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as early as this week.
Bilden established and managed HarbourVest’ Asian subsidiary after he relocated to Hong Kong in 1996.
Bilden currently serves as a trustee of the Naval War College Foundation and has supported some efforts of the Naval Academy Foundation, Naval War College Foundation and the Republican Party in a bid to establish a connection with the military and government, Colin Clark reported for Breaking Defense.
Clark wrote that Randy Forbes, former chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on seapower, was eyed as the frontrunner for Navy secretary before Bilden floated as a potential nominee.
