Controversial CO's name pulled from O-6 selectees list; What are your thoughts on this?

2015-05-31T12:54:47-04:00

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/breaking-news/2015/05/06/jana-vavasseur-william-p-lawrence-accident-secnav/70886558/

Controversial CO's name pulled from O-6 selectees list

The promotion of Cmdr. Jana Vavasseur, former CO of the destroyer William P. Lawrence, faulted in the deaths of two helicopter pilots, is on hold.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 31 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-05-31T13:06:09-04:00

"The investigation found that a combination of heavy seas and a turn made at top speed caused the wave to wash over the flight deck, and it faulted Vavasseur for failing to take proper caution with a helicopter on deck.

Pacific Fleet boss Adm. Harry Harris said in his endorsement of the 2014 investigation that Vavasseur had taken 'unnecessary risks during routine, yet inherently dangerous, shipboard helicopter operations'."

Sounds reasonable to me to put her promotion on hold.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 31 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-05-31T18:28:48-04:00

Interesting, when these things happen you are usually relieved of command forced into retirement. Not suprised though, I used to handle the Officer Promotion message that came from the Capital and those in Government have long memories, I remember a Naval Officer that was passed over and forced into retirement for being at Tailhook but cleared of any wrongdoing and a Marine Officer (Not Ollie) that was Vaguely associated with Iran-Contra that had the same happen.