Stars and Strips is reporting today that Rear Adm. Charles M. Gaouette, who was in command of an aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East, is being temporarily reassigned due to an allegation of “inappropriate leadership judgment.”
Navy replacing Rear Adm. Gaouette in command carrier strike group in Middle East, pending internal investigation inappropriate judgment.
— Mr. Bear (@jcbdraco) October 27, 2012
A spokesperson for the Navy declined to give details on the allegation, but Stars and Stripes reports that “it is highly unusual for the Navy to replace a carrier strike group commander during its deployment.”
The news comes just two days after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the replacement for Gen. Carter Ham, who was serving as commander of U.S. Africa Command. Ham was one of two top military commanders Panetta mentioned during a news conference on Thursday at the Pentagon, during which Panetta said the commanders “felt very strongly that we could not put forces at risk” in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11., “without knowing what’s going on, without having some real-time information about what’s taking place.”
Details are scarce, but some can’t help wonder about the timing of these military shake-ups.
Would love to read the story about what happened with Gen. Ham and separately with Adm. Gaouette. Tomorrow's paper will surely have details!
— Gerry (@GerryDales) October 27, 2012
Guys we have a problem. They relieved Gen Ham of Africom and Rear Admiral Gaouette from command of Stennis Strike Group.
— Jo Anne moretti (@JoAnneMoretti) October 27, 2012
Both General Ham (AFRICON) and Rear Admiral Gaouette (Stennis Strike Force) were relieved of their posts. Highly unusual. #military
— Eye on Politics (@EyeOnPolitics) October 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/rfranks263/status/262291872456781824
wow. first, General Ham and now Admiral Garouette. Honorable men sacrificed for disagreeing with the President? #Benghazi
— EastCoastToast (@splatterful) October 27, 2012
Stars and Stripes says the USS John C. Stennis arrived in its area of operations in the Middle East on Oct. 17, after making port visits in Thailand and Malaysia.
Prediction: Relief of Stennis carrier group commander will have more to do w/port calls "in Thailand and Malaysia" than nefarious politics
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) October 27, 2012
If you are tweeting stories about ADM Gaouette's removal from command of Stennis carrier group and Benghazi, please look at a map.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) October 27, 2012
Join the conversation as a VIP Member