President Obama will nominate former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus to be secretary of the U.S. Navy, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Friday.

Mabus, 60, is a Democrat and campaigned extensively for Obama last year. He had been previously talked about as a candidate for a place in Obama's cabinet as secretary of education. The person with knowledge of the Navy nomination requested anonymity because the White House has not yet made an official announcement.

Mabus served in the Navy from 1970-72 as a surface warfare officer on the Newport, Rhode Island-based USS Little Rock. Before then, he was in the Naval ROTC while he was an undergraduate student at the University of Mississippi.

He was governor of Mississippi from January 1988 to January 1992. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994-96 under President Bill Clinton.

Mabus' nomination would need to be approved by the U.S. Senate. The secretary is the civilian leader of the service and is responsible for a wide range of duties, from recruiting and mobilizing to overseeing the construction and repair of ships, equipment and facilities.

Mabus has a master's degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from Harvard University.

From June 2006 to April 2007, Mabus was chairman and CEO of Foamex International Inc., and helped move the manufacturer of polyurethane foam products out of bankruptcy. He has served on the boards of several corporations and charities...