Navy Sacks Second Submarine Commander in 5 Days
Military.com 31 Aug 2018 By Gina Harkins
The commanding officer of the second submarine to
integrate women into its previously all-male crews has been removed from his
job, Navy leaders announced Friday.
Capt. Gregory Kercher, who led the guided-missile
submarine Florida's Gold crew, was relieved of his duties due to a loss of
confidence in his ability to command, said Cmdr. Sarah Self-Kyler, a
spokeswoman for Commander, Submarine Forces.
Kercher was not under investigation, she added.
Vice Adm. Chas Richard, commander of Submarine
Forces, relieved Kercher of his duties. Kercher, who'd taken command of the
Florida Gold crew in September 2017, was temporarily reassigned to Submarine
Group 10 out of Kings Bay, Georgia,
where the Florida is based.
Kercher is the second
submarine commanding officer to be relieved of his duties this week.
On Monday, Cmdr. Travis Zettel with the fast-attack submarine Bremerton was
removed from his job amid an ongoing investigation.
The Florida's two crews -- blue and gold -- were
the first East Coast submarine crews to integrate women after the Navy lifted
its ban on female sailors serving on subs in 2010.
Kercher http://www.jacksonville.com/news/20180219/male-female-crew-planned-for-kings-bay-navy-sub" rel="nofollow - - told the Florida-Times Union in February that
he'd spent time on an Australian submarine in 2006 with a coed crew. Navy
submarine crews, he added, benefited from the service's careful approach to
gender integration.
"If we tried to do this 15 to 20 years ago
in a sudden manner, I think it would have been difficult," Kercher told
the paper. "We wouldn't have been prepared for it, and it probably
wouldn't have went off as seamless as it has."
When Kercher assumed command, he told the Florida
Gold crew he had just one role as their commanding officer.
"To lead you as we prepare our great warship
to return to the fight and conduct vital operations," he said, according
to a Navy news release. "We will do this wherever and whenever called upon
in support of our nation's interests, and we will do so to the very best of our
capabilities."
Capt.
Michael Badorf has assumed command of Florida (Gold) until a permanent relief
is identified, according to Navy officials. Badorf previously commanded the
guided-missile submarine Georgia and fast-attack submarine Albuquerque and was
serving as the deputy for training at Submarine Squadron 16.
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