Rear Admiral Relieved from NAVSEA Job Due to Inappropriate Relationship

August 2, 2019 6:03 PM
Rear Adm. Stephen Williamson, then the director of Fleet Maintenance, U.S. Pacific Fleet, addressed Hampton Roads area engineering duty officers (EDO) during the EDO Road Show in January 2017 hosted by Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center onboard Naval Station Norfolk, Va. US Navy photo.

Rear Adm. Stephen Williamson was relieved from his duties as the Naval Sea Systems Command director of industrial operations due to an inappropriate personal relationship, service told USNI News on Friday.

NAVSEA commander Vice Adm. Tom Moore relieved Williamson from his duties today due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, according to a Navy statement.

“Moore took this action based on the findings of an investigation by the Navy’s Inspector General into Williamson’s personal conduct. The Navy expects its leaders to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct, and holds accountable leaders who fail to meet those standards,” the statement reads.

NAVSEA spokeswoman Colleen O’Rourke told USNI News that “the investigation found evidence of a consensual, but inappropriate, personal relationship. The NAVSEA Commander took administrative action in response to the findings of the investigation. No charges have been preferred at this time.

Commander, Fleet Maintenance U.S. Pacific Fleet, Rear Adm. (Sel.) Stephen Williamson and John Clyburn, Ship Repair Facility superintendent, discuss scheduled maintenance for the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during a ship tour in June 2016. US Navy photo.

Williamson is a Maryland native who had served as deputy commander for logistics, maintenance and industrial operations at NAVSEA since September 2017.

He began his Navy career as a surface warfare officer, serving as damage control assistant on USS Lynde McCormick (DDG-8) and first lieutenant on nuclear-powered cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9).

Williamson became an engineering duty officer in 1996 and since that time has served as the business, production and operations officer and then later the commander at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, as well as the director of fleet maintenance at U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Williamson has been temporarily assigned to the Office of Naval Research, and a Navy official told USNI News that he will likely retire from the Navy after the investigation and today’s administrative actions.

Megan Eckstein

Megan Eckstein

Megan Eckstein is the former deputy editor for USNI News.

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