James Henry ‘Jim’ Webb, Jr. (b. 1946) is the senior United States Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy. He is a member of the Democratic Party. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Webb served as a Marine Corps infantry officer and is a highly decorated Vietnam War combat veteran. During his four years with the Reagan administration, he served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defence for Reserve Affairs, then as Secretary of the Navy. In 2006 he was elected the Democratic Senator for Virginia. In 2012 he retired from the senate to return to the private sector. He is also an author of many books, stating that ""I've written for a living all my life, so writing is as much a part of me as working out.