Navy must take risks, act like the US is at war, says Phelan
By Riley Ceder
Jan 14, 2026, 10:47 AM
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.
Navy Secretary John Phelan delivered remarks at the 38th Annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Arlington, Virginia, and extolled the virtues of “radical transparency,” an end to “stupid” practices, rolling the dice on calculated risks and maintaining a posture that is ready for war at any time to better the service’s current and future fleets.
“That results in accountability and moving from a compliance-based organization to a performance-based organization,” Phelan said.
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.
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-navy/2026/01/14/navy-must-take-risks-act-like-the-us-is-at-war-says-phelan/
