Posted on Dec 9, 2014
SFC A.M. Drake
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Navy's Fired Skippers Often Maintain Their Rank
Capt. Wayne Brown addresses the crew and guests of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer during a change-of-command ceremony July 3, 2014, on the ship's flight deck. Robert R. Sanchez/Navy
Dec 08, 2014
Stars and Stripes, by Matthew M. Burke

In the past five years, 90 Navy skippers have been relieved of duty for indiscretions ranging from driving under the influence to having inappropriate relationships.
But for Navy officers, losing your job doesn’t always end your career.
Based on information provided by the Navy, Stars and Stripes has found that 53 percent of all officers relieved of command since 2010 still put on the uniform each day, most without loss of rank.
Navy Cmdr. Larry Gonzales was relieved of leadership duties aboard the USS Chafee in 2009 after he was investigated for groping a subordinate and carrying on an inappropriate relationship. In 2011, he became deputy director of research and analysis at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii.
In 2011, Cmdr. Timothy Murphy was relieved from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 after police cited him for driving under the influence. He later became a program team leader at the F/A-18 Hornet and EA-18G Growler Program Office in Maryland.
Last year, Capt. Lance Massey II was relieved as maintenance commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing for inappropriate behavior with female staff. Though he’s no longer in command, Massey is still with the 33rd.
While retaining commanding officers accused of inappropriate and sometimes illegal actions might look suspicious, naval scholars suggest cases must be examined individually.
The evidence and how each case is adjudicated ultimately determines the fate of those relieved.
Admirals looking at a case of alleged wrongdoing have two options, according to Navy Capt. Michael Junge, a military professor at the U.S. Naval War College who has been studying commander reliefs for more than a decade. They can pursue military charges and proceed to a court-martial — where a conviction could result in total separation from the military — or they can relieve a commander administratively. The latter is sometimes easier, especially if the evidence is weak.
Officials at the Navy Personnel Command declined to comment on the individual cases, instead referring Stars and Stripes to lower commands, which largely did not respond to requests for comment.
Junge said administrative actions would not necessarily make it into the sailor’s file, and therefore, the sailor would not be separated from the Navy.
An arrest for drunken driving or groping a colleague’s wife would likely see an officer relieved of command but not forced out of the service, Junge said. It’s likely, however, they would never command again and their career would be adversely affected.
“In the modern Navy, an officer relieved of their command doesn’t go on to command again,” he said. But, “if it isn’t a clear criminal act, then there’s no reason to send these guys out.”
Junge said the number of commanding officers who misbehave makes up a very small percentage of those who serve. Like in the civilian world, he believes some crimes or incidents of wrongdoing are mistakes, where relief of command is punishment enough. In some cases, it is better to help the individual and retain their almost 20 years’ experience, knowledge and training.
“Just because we have a zero-tolerance policy doesn’t mean you’re automatically fired,” he said. “Firing might not be the right answer all the time.”
One area that is often perplexing to Junge is who can fire whom. Sometimes an admiral will relieve a commanding officer but leave the commander’s immediate supervisor out of the loop. Other times, the immediate supervisor does the firing.
“It’s all over the place,” Junge said. “It’s hard to see who’s in charge.”
In 2009, 12 Navy commanders were fired, according to Navy information provided to Stars and Stripes. Personnel Command officials did not respond to requests detailing which commanders were still employed in the Navy.
In 2010, 17 commanders were fired, Navy officials said. As of February 2014, five of them were still in the Navy.
They include Cmdr. Jeff Cima, who was relieved from command of the USS Chicago for drunkenness in 2010, Navy officials said. As of February, he was working at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. Cmdr. Herman Pfaeffle was relieved of command after hitting a pier in the USS John L. Hall, but now is in Naval Operations.
Capt. Ronald Gero, commanding officer of the USS Ohio, was relieved by Rear Adm. James Caldwell due to a loss of confidence in Gero’s ability to command.
Loss of confidence is a response often used by Navy leadership to remove a commander early into a misconduct investigation, according to Navy spokesman Lt. Chika Onyekanne.
It is also used to remove a commander when there is not enough evidence to pursue formal charges. The information as to what the commander allegedly did is then often protected.
“‘Loss of confidence’ is a legitimate reason for a CO firing,” Onyekanne wrote to Stars and Stripes. “In many cases/situations the investigation of the incident, such as misconduct, is early in the process and ongoing. Relieving the CO also allows continuity of leadership at the command while decreasing and/or minimizing the possible distraction (at the command) of an ongoing investigation.”
Also in 2010, Cmdr. Charles Maher was relieved from the USS Memphis during the investigation of a cheating ring, Navy officials said. He was later hired at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Lt. Cmdr. James Rushton was relieved from the minesweeper the USS Chief for fraternization with the executive officer to close out 2010. Earlier this year, he was stationed at Tactical Training Group Pacific.
In 2011, 23 commanders were relieved of their command for cause, Navy officials said. The number who were able to stay in doubled from the previous year to 10.
In addition to Murphy, Cmdr. Nathan Borchers was relieved from the USS Stout for a pattern of unprofessional behavior in overseas ports, according to Navy officials. He recently held a position at the Strategic Command at Colorado Springs.
Capt. William Mosk was relieved from Naval Station Rota after his command lost confidence he could effectively oversee an investigation. He wound up at Commander Carrier Strike Group 9.
Cmdr. Dave Koss was responsible for a low-flying maneuver, Cmdr. Michael Varney mishandled classified information, Cmdr. Karl Pugh was disciplined in an alcohol-related incident and Cmdr. Laredo Bell was cited for drunken driving. All remained in the service.
The reasons behind the firings of Cmdr. Joseph Nosse, Lt. Cmdr. Martin Holguin and Cmdr. Jonathan Jackson were cited as loss of confidence.
In 2012, 26 commanders were relieved for cause, Navy officials said. Of those, 14 were allowed to remain in the service, jumping to 54 percent from 43 percent the previous year.
Cmdr. Diego Hernandez was relieved for mishandling classified materials, Cmdr. Derick Armstrong for sexual harassment and fraternization, and Cmdr. Michael Ward for an extramarital affair. The justifications behind many of the firings have not been released.
From January 2013 through February 2014, 22 commanders were relieved, 21 in 2013 alone, Navy officials said. Nearly all of them (82 percent) remain in the Navy today.
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SMSgt Security Forces Manager
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Let's face it, if an enlisted member committed some of these offenses they would be bounced out of the military. The Military spends a huge amount of money to educate officers and no matter what your personal opinion is of them, they are humans just like enlisted are. Just because an officer makes a mistake doesn't mean the Military is going to necessarily send them on their way. Sometimes they get shuffled off to different duties to reflect on why they became officers in the first place and that often fixes the problem. I had a base Commander that had a DUI early in his career, but he made O-6 and will probably pin on a star or two. Just because he made a mistake, doesn't mean he's a bad officer and for those of you that feel you may be above reproach, just remember that the next time you make a mistake.....
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SMSgt Security Forces Manager
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Sounds like your Command has it right, unfortunately it's not a standard accross the board, but it should be.
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LTC Stephen C.
LTC Stephen C.
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SMSgt (Join to see), when I was commissioned in '73, a DUI for an officer was a career ender.
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SPC Mark Hoke
SPC Mark Hoke
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Define privilege? I learned when I was in its who you know. Like I said, define privilege. One man's privilege is another man's pain.
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Capt Jeff S.
Capt Jeff S.
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I'm reminded of the Marine officer that used unsecure means (cell phone) to warn his unit of an ambush. He lost his career over that. Meanwhile, Hillary deletes 33,000 emails, lies to Congress, and is not held accountable for the classified she leaked on her private server -- because although she did do all those things, she didn't mean to, and therefore FBI Director Comey saw no reason for her to be prosecuted. SMH Since when was intent ever part of the equation that determined guilt or innocence?
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
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I think the privilege only comes into being at the E-9 (CSM)/O-7 grades because there seems to be a paradigm shift at the "coronation" ceremony. I made it to major and the only "privilege" I can recall was being called sir.
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CW3 Network Architect
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They call me that too....
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SSgt Quality Assurance Evaluator
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I definitely feel that rank matters, though do not feel that it always should. I have a good story about this that fits along nicely.

Deployed to Talil, Iraq, the base commander was an O6 who was strict about the no sexual contact part of G01B. Every week emails came out about people doing stupid stuff and getting in trouble detailing what they did and what their punishment was. The most common one was getting caught having sex, which always resulted in an Article 15 and being sent home to start the separation process, regardless of rank. Then one day a photo was found on a SrA's phone that she had taken while having sex with the O6. What happened to the O6? He was relieved of his command, and placed 2nd in command under another O6. That was it. Yet even after this, Article 15's and separation were imposed on anyone else who were caught committing the same offense.
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MSgt Logistics Planner
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This is horse crap. Not in a way that means it is "horse crap" because it is unbelievable, but "horse crap" because it IS believable. Hypocrisy and fraternization, all I can think is is there a better psychological punishment?

O6 base CC deployed, that's a level where stars are palatable. Relieved, working for another O6. No stars for him. 30 years down the drain and one assignment from flag rank while everyone tunes up their violins. Good riddance!

Wonder if he was married and how he explained this...
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SSgt Quality Assurance Evaluator
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MSgt (Join to see) - I have no idea rather he was married or not, that much info was not released to us. I also realize that this will most likely prevent him making that star. The way things worked out though, he will still be able to retire as an 06. Who would complain about that?
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