Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan visits PSNS & IMF

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan visits PSNS & IMF

By Max Maxfield, PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan visited Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility May 28, 2025, marking his first visit to the command since being sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Navy on March 25, 2025.

Before his tour of the shipyard, Phelan presented the Navy Superior Civilian Medal for Valor to Mario Arsenio Jr., for his actions April 2, 2022, after a Logistics Escape Trunk dislodged and ejected from the hull of the USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) during a forward compartment air test. Arsenio rushed into the unstable environment to rescue his teammates from the crushed and tangled staging, which had been thrown about by the explosive force, helping them to a safe area behind the sail.

"Today we're honoring Mr. Mario F. Arsenio Jr., whose extraordinary acts of courage and selflessness in the face danger exemplify the highest ideals of service, sacrifice and moral character," Phelan said. "Your courage serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and integrity within our Navy civilian workforce. It's my honor to personally present you with this recognition."

Phelan's tour included a stop at the Inside Machine Shop to learn how additive manufacturing efforts at PSNS & IMF help get ship's back to sea as quickly as possible, in the best possible condition. He then toured Dry Dock 3, to see the site of the future Multi-Mission Dry Dock, which will allow PSNS & IMF to meet future needs of the Navy's fleet, to include the docking and maintenance of Ford-class aircraft carriers. Phelan concluded his visit of PSNS & IMF with a stop at Dry Dock 4, to observe current submarine maintenance operations.

Secretary Phelan oversees the well-being, readiness and development of nearly one million Sailors, Marines, reservists and civilian personnel in the Department of the Navy and manages an annual budget of $263.5 billion and balance sheet assets totaling $922 billion. His departmental priorities focus on strengthening shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base; fostering an adaptive, accountable and warfighting culture; and improving the health, welfare and training of the Navy's most important asset-its people.