USS McCain commanding officer, executive officer relieved of duties

The commanding officer and the executive officer of the USS John S. McCain have been relieved of their duties over a “loss of confidence” after a collision in August claimed the lives of 10 sailors. 

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The U.S. Navy said in a statement that the cause of the crash is still under investigation, and that both the commanding officer, Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez, and the executive officer, Cmdr. Jessie L. Sanchez, had been reassigned to new posts in the Navy. 

An additional five officers were injured in the collision on Aug. 21, when the McCain collided with a merchant tanker, dealing significant damage to both ships. The U.S. sailors were killed when a damaged compartment flooded with water. 

The Navy statement clarified that the collision was “preventable,” citing the commanding officer’s poor judgment for the incident.

Two days after the crash, the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander fired Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, the top officer of the Japan-based 7th fleet, following a string of similar incidents involving ships in the fleet.

According to the Navy, the commanding officer has been reassigned to Naval Forces Japan, while the executive officer was sent to the Ship Repair Facility in Yokosuka, where the 7th fleet is based.