Former Foamex CEO Mabus Sworn In

May 20, 2009--Former Foamex CEO and Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus has been sworn in as the secretary of the Navy.

Mabus replaces Donald Winter in the civilian post that helps set policies for the Navy and Marines.

The Senate confirmed Mabus' nomination late Monday. President Barack Obama nominated Mabus in April.

Mabus will oversee a department with a $125 billion budget and 900,000 workers. His duties will include oversight of recruiting, training and mobilizing and construction and repairs of Naval ships and facilities.

His nomination comes at a critical time for the military, with U.S. service members serving in combat areas such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

One major challenge Mabus faces is increasing the size of the Navy fleet and ensuring that the nation has worldwide presence, said Thompson. The number of warships has dropped from about 600 to 280 during the last 20 years, Thompson said.

Mabus, governor from 1988 to 1992, also was chairman and CEO of Foamex, a large manufacturing company. He has a family timber business in Mississippi. He served a short stint in the Navy aboard the USS Little Rock, and also is a Harvard Law graduate.

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