Navy Fires Another CO, 11th CO Fired This Year

The Navy has fired a commanding officer for the 11th time this year:

The commanding officer of Norfolk Naval Shipyard has been temporarily removed from command while a formal investigation into the command environment at the yard is completed, Navy officials said.

Capt. Greg Thomas, who has commanded the Portsmouth, Va., shipyard since September 2010, was assigned to temporary duty at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., pending the outcome of the investigation, being conducted by the Naval Inspector General, according to NAVSEA spokeswoman Pat Dolan. She described Thomas as being “temporarily reassigned.”

A Navy statement said only that the investigation involved the command environment.

Capt. Gregory Thomas had assumed command in September of last year after the Navy fired Capt. William Kiestler for command issues related to submarine maintenance. Also noteworthy Capt. Gregory Thomas was on the flag officer promotion list last year.

It is becoming more and more clear that Navy leadership is taking the responsibilities of command in NAVSEA more seriously. In the long run the fleet will be much better for it.