US Navy Sacks Two Commanders Over ‘Loss of Confidence’

U.S. guided-missile destroyers are seen in a file photo. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Navy this week relieved two commanders of their duty on Wednesday, citing a loss of confidence in their respective capacities to command.

Capt. Michael D. Nordeen, the commander of the amphibious transport Mesa Verde, and Cmdr. Alexa Jenkins, commanding officer of the USS Carney, were relieved, according to the Navy.

Nordeen took command of the vessel in August 2022 but was fired on Wednesday due to “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the Navy said.

Capt. Gregory Baker will be assigned as the commander of the Mesa Verde until a permanent replacement is named, the Navy added.

Jenkins “will be temporarily reassigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Squadron 14,” the Navy said in a statement. “There is no impact to the command’s mission or schedule due to the relief.”

The service added that Capt. Aaron Anderson, the deputy commodore of Naval Surface Squadron 14, will serve as the commanding officer until a permanent replacement is named.

A fire broke out in December on the Carney, a guided-missile destroyer, while the ship was at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, according to reports. The ship’s crew put out the fire, but six sailors were hospitalized.

On Dec. 22, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) confirmed it was helping an investigation into the fire on the USS Carney, an official told Military.com. Lt. Cmdr. Jason Fischer confirmed that ATF agents entered the ship to investigate.

“The Navy is leveraging all available tools during this investigation, to include support from partner agencies,” Fischer told the outlet.

Other Recent Incidents

Last year, the Navy said that it had fired five officers in the span of a few days, while in November, the service said it relieved Cmdr. Cassidi Reese, commanding officer of the VX-31, also due to a loss of confidence.

“The loss of confidence is a result of actions leading to a Nov. 4, 2022 arrest and citation for driving while intoxicated at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California,” the Navy said at the time.

“Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct,” the Navy added in its statement last year. “They are expected to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards.”

Vaccine Mandate Dropped

Earlier this month, the Navy, along with other branches of the military, officially dropped separating sailors who didn’t receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a Jan. 11 message issued by Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman. The vaccine mandate was implemented in August 2021 after an order was handed down by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The message tells commanders to “immediately discontinue administrative separation processing of Navy Service Members solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, including those with approved separation letters,“ Cheeseman said. The bulleting also stated that “all commands will immediately suspend” new punishments for refusing the vaccine.