The Navy has fired the commanding officer of the USS Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser based in San Diego, the service announced in a statement late Thursday night.
Capt. Danielle DeFant was relieved as commander of the Lake Erie by Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, on Thursday “due to a loss of confidence in her ability to command,” the statement said.
DeFant has become at least the ninth Navy commander to be removed from command this year.
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Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for the Naval Surface Force, told Military.com in an email Friday that DeFant's relief “was related to the performance of her duties as the commanding officer.”
When asked whether DeFant was under investigation, Abrahamson said that “the decision to relieve any commanding officer comes after a thorough review from leadership in the officer's chain of command.”
Abrahamson also confirmed that neither the ship's executive officer nor its top enlisted sailor was relieved alongside DeFant.
The service's statement offered only the usual remark that the service expects its commanders “to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards.”
The Navy said that Capt. Brandon Burkett will assume the duties as commanding officer…
