Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus has been confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Navy.

A spokesman for U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin says the Senate voted unanimously Monday night in Washington to confirm Mabus to the Navy’s top civilian job. Mabus succeeds Donald C. Winter.

Mabus, who’s now 60, served in the Navy from 1970-72 as a surface warfare officer. The Democrat was Mississippi governor from 1988-92. He was U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994-96 under President Bill Clinton.

During 2008, Mabus campaigned extensively for Democrat Barack Obama. Now president, Obama nominated Mabus for the Navy post in late March.