The Navy has introduced that it has relieved the commanding officer of a China Lake-based testing squadron of her command over a drunk driving arrest.
Cmdr. Cassidi Reese, the commanding officer of Air Check and Analysis Squadron (VX) 31, was relieved Nov. 17 over “a lack of confidence in her means to command,” the Navy introduced in a press release launched Friday.
Based on the service, the lack of confidence was the results of a Nov. 4, 2022, arrest and fees for driving whereas intoxicated at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California — the bottom the place her squadron is situated.
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In its assertion, the ocean service mentioned that it holds its commanding officers “to excessive requirements of private {and professional} conduct … and the Navy holds them accountable once they fall in need of these requirements.”
Reese had served because the VX-31’s commanding officer since March 2022, the Navy mentioned. Based on a 2020 Navy biography, Reese spent intensive time with the squadron — nicknamed “The Mud Devils” — as a pilot. Her first shore tour was with the unit, and he or she returned in November 2017 as a division head earlier than transferring to the superior weapons lab in February 2019, and eventually changing into the squadron’s chief take a look at pilot in July 2020.
Based on that biography, Reese had greater than 2,900 flight hours in 25 totally different airframes.
Reese is the second commanding officer the Navy has relieved this month. On Nov. 8, the service introduced it had relieved Capt. Simon McKeon, commanding officer of the cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), over a lack of confidence as properly. A Navy spokesperson instructed Navy.com on the time that his aid was the results of private misconduct and that an investigation was ongoing.
Cmdr. Christopher Putre, VX-31’s present chief take a look at pilot, will assume command of the unit whereas Reese is briefly reassigned to Naval Air Warfare Heart Weapons Division, the Navy mentioned in its assertion.
Lt. Cmdr. Devin Arneson, a spokeswoman for the Navy, mentioned that the service had relieved 17 commanding officers so far in 2022 — 16 from the Navy and 1 from the Marine Corps.
Arneson harassed that the reliefs will not be associated and occurred “for plenty of totally different causes.”
— Konstantin Toropin may be reached at konstantin.toropin@army.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ktoropin.
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