In Reversal, Navy Will Not Reinstate Captain of Coronavirus-Hit Aircraft Carrier
In a reversal, the Navy on Friday scrapped its recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier and instead upheld a decision to fire him from his command of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier where he became a…
In a reversal, the Navy on Friday scrapped its recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier and instead upheld a decision to fire him from his command of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier where he became a hero to his crew.
The Navy said an in-depth investigation showed that Crozier, despite imploring top brass to do more to safeguard his sailors, had himself failed to do enough to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus. It eventually infected more than 1,200 personnel aboard the Theodore Roosevelt, killing one of them.
The Navy also announced it would suspend the promotion of Crozier’s boss at the time, Rear Admiral Stuart Baker, the carrier strike group commander. The decisions were first reported by Reuters.
Admiral Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations and the Navy’s top officer, had previously recommended reinstating Crozier in April after a preliminary investigation.But Gilday said a deeper look showed both Crozier and Baker “fell well short” of expectations.
“Had I known then what I know today, I would have not made that recommendation to reinstate Captain Crozier. Moreover, if Captain Crosier were still in command today, I would be relieving him,” Gilday told a Pentagon news conference.
Gilday said Crozier would not be eligible for another command position and would be reassigned, moves that appeared to effectively draw a curtain on Crozier’s career.
Some Democratic lawmakers immediately questioned the Navy’s judgment.
“We have serious reservations about this decision, which comes as a surprise,” Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Van Hollen said in a statement.
Congressman Adam Smith, the Democrat who leads the House Armed Services Committee, laid blame also on the Navy’s civilian leadership and said his committee had launched its own investigation.
VIRAL VIDEO
Crozier was hailed as a hero by his crew for risking his job by writing a letter, which leaked, calling on the Navy for greater safeguards.