The Navy has fired the commanding officer of the Japan-based destroyer USS Howard who has been on the publish lower than six months and got here after one other fired commander.
The Navy “relieved the commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard, Cmdr. Cameron Dennis, Feb. 6, 2024, on account of a lack of confidence in his capability to carry out his duties,” the Navy mentioned in its assertion Tuesday.
The assertion added that Capt. Dave Huljack shall be assigned as commanding officer till a everlasting reduction is recognized.
Learn Subsequent: 2 Fort Myer Troopers Arrested and Charged with Stealing LGBTQ+ Satisfaction Flags from Home Beside Base
The Navy’s assertion didn’t supply any extra details about why Dennis was faraway from management, exterior of the boilerplate “lack of confidence” comment.
Dennis seems to be the second Navy commander relieved this 12 months. Navy officers have mentioned that in 2023 the service relieved 15 commanding officers.
The officer, who in accordance with his service biography, started his Navy profession as an undesignated sailor in 1993 earlier than commissioning in 2006, took over commanding the Howard in September after the Navy relieved his predecessor — Cmdr. Kenji Igawa — in August.
Igawa himself had been on the publish solely about eight months earlier than he was abruptly relieved.
A Navy official confirmed to Navy.com that Igawa was relieved over a “gentle grounding” incident that the usHoward skilled on Aug. 10 because the ship was pulling into Bali, Indonesia, for a port go to.
Navy.com reached out to the Navy for extra particulars on Dennis’ firing however didn’t instantly obtain a reply.
Dennis beforehand served as the chief officer of the destroyer USS Higgins in addition to the chief engineer onboard the mine countermeasures ship USS Gladiator.
In response to the Navy biography dated September 2021, Dennis additionally served on the workers of the Commander, Naval Forces Europe, in Naples, Italy, because the maritime fires chief — a place wherein he managed goal lists and helped plan Tomahawk cruise missile strikes, amongst different duties.
The Navy’s assertion mentioned that Dennis shall be reassigned to the U.S. seventh Fleet workers and that “there isn’t a affect to the ship’s mission or schedule.”
