At the recommendation of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer will issue a Secretarial Letter of Censure to USS Fitzgerald former commanding officer Cmdr. Bryce Benson and former crew member Lt. Natalie Combs.
Both officers were previously dismissed from their jobs and received non-judicial punishment. The Navy dropped criminal charges against both officers in June 2018.
This decision is in the best interest of the Navy, the families of the Fitzgerald Sailors, and the procedural rights of the accused officers,
…the US Navy said.
USS Fitzgerald collided with the container ship ‘ACX Crystal’ off Japan in June 2017, killing seven US navy sailors and opening internal discussions regarding potential training and compliance deficiencies of the US navy crews.
The comprehensive program to improve Navy readiness and training, to do everything possible to ensure that accidents like this will not recur, remains on track. The Navy continues to strive to achieve and maintain a climate of operational excellence,
…the Navy added.
Richardson will also withdraw and dismiss charges in the general courts-martial against the two officers.
