From left to right: Capt. Wendel Penetrante, Capt. Edwin Catubig and Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Dean Howell.
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The commanding officer, executive officer and senior enlisted leader of a Navy ship repair facility in Yokosuka, Japan, have been fired, service officials announced on Wednesday.
Capt. Wendel Penetrante, Capt. Edwin Catubig and Master Chief Petty Officer Thomas Dean Howell were relieved of their duties on Wednesday as commanding officer, executive officer, and command master chief, respectively, a Navy news release says.
They were all assigned to the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center, which provides intermediate-level and depot-level repair for Navy ships and U.S. 7th Fleet.
Navy officials said the three were relieved “due to a loss of confidence in their ability to command” but provided no further details on the exact reason for their firings.
Military services often attribute such firings to “loss of confidence” rather than providing the exact reason why officers and senior enlisted leaders have been relieved. The euphemism typically covers a range of reasons for firings, including problems at work and personal issues.
Relief of an entire leadership team is relatively rare.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
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Source: Entire leadership team of a Navy maintenance depot fired