Bilden, once tapped to serve as Navy secretary, joins HII board

Huntington Ingalls said today Philip Bilden, President Trump's first pick to serve as Navy secretary, has joined its board of directors, effective last week.

Bilden retired last year as a co-founding member of private-equity firm HarbourVest Partners, HII said. Earlier this year, Trump tapped him to serve as Navy secretary, but Bilden eventually withdrew from consideration.

In a statement at the time, Bilden said he fully backed Trump's agenda and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' leadership.

"However, after an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my family's private financial interests," he added.