Tag Archives: Lt. j.g. Sarah B. Coppock

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Outlines Defense in Rebuttal to SECNAV

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Outlines Defense in Rebuttal to SECNAV

Cmdr. Bryce Benson, then-executive officer, assists in bringing down the battle ensign aboard USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) in 2016. US Navy Photo

The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) is pushing back against a rebuke from the Secretary of the Navy, disputing major facts in the service’s argument he was criminally negligent leading up a June 17, 2017, fatal collision, according to a copy of the April 26 rebuttal obtained by USNI News. Read More

USS Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer Receive Formal Censure Ahead of Dismissal of Negligence Charges

USS Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer Receive Formal Censure Ahead of Dismissal of Negligence Charges

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) stands by before it is loaded onto the heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf in 2017. US Navy Photo

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued formal letters of censure to the former commander and tactical action officer of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) for their roles in the June 17, 2017, collision between a destroyer and a merchant ship. Read More

Board Finds ‘No Basis’ to Remove Officer Involved in USS Fitzgerald Collision from Navy

Board Finds ‘No Basis’ to Remove Officer Involved in USS Fitzgerald Collision from Navy

The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) arrives at the port of Pascagoula, Miss. on Jan. 19, 2018 aboard the heavy lift transport vessel M/V Transshelf. US Navy Photo

A board of inquiry moved not to separate from service a sailor who the Navy had previously charged with negligent homicide for his role in the 2017 fatal collision of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USNI News has learned. Read More

Military Judge Disqualifies Naval Reactors Director Caldwell from Overseeing Fitzgerald CO Trial

Military Judge Disqualifies Naval Reactors Director Caldwell from Overseeing Fitzgerald CO Trial

Adm. James F. Caldwell, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, gives remarks during a senior leader all hands at Sharkey Theater, July 11, 2017. US Navy Photo

A military judge has disqualified Director of Naval Reactors Adm. Frank Caldwell from overseeing the upcoming negligence trial of the former USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) commander due to actions Caldwell made during other legal proceedings related to the fatal 2017 collision, according to a copy of a Tuesday ruling obtained by USNI News. Read More

Top Stories 2018: Major Navy Legal Cases

Top Stories 2018: Major Navy Legal Cases

Several high profile legal actions for the Navy occurred in 2018 from the ongoing Fat Leonard investigation to several special operations cases and the ongoing accountability actions for the Western Pacific destroyer collisions that killed 17 sailors. Read More

Second USS Fitzgerald Officer Defers Plea to Negligence, Hazarding a Vessel Charges

Second USS Fitzgerald Officer Defers Plea to Negligence, Hazarding a Vessel Charges

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returns to Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka following a collision with a merchant vessel while operating southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kryzentia Weiermann/Released)

An officer charged with negligence for her role in the collision of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) reserved her right not to enter a plea on Monday during an arraignment before a military judge. Read More

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Pleads Not Guilty to Negligence Charges

Former USS Fitzgerald CO Pleads Not Guilty to Negligence Charges

Cmdr. Bryce Benson. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated to include Cmdr. Benson’s redacted charge sheet.

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) has pleaded not guilty to charges he committed criminal acts leading up to the collision of the guided-missile destroyer, in a Tuesday arraignment. Read More

Navy Drops Homicide Charges Against USS Fitzgerald Commander, Junior Officers

Navy Drops Homicide Charges Against USS Fitzgerald Commander, Junior Officers

USS Fitzgerald pierside at the U.S. naval base at Yokosuka, Japan in June 2017.

This post has been updated to include statements from Cmdr. Bryce Benson and Lt. Natalie Combs.

The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) and two junior officers will not face negligent homicide charges for their role in a collision off the coast of Japan that killed seven sailors last year, USNI News has learned. Read More

Summary of Major Events Since Fatal USS Fitzgerald Collision

Summary of Major Events Since Fatal USS Fitzgerald Collision

Last year’s fatal collisions of guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) and USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) began a chain of investigations, accountability actions and reform efforts. The following is a summary of the major events that have occurred since the early morning June 17, 2018, incident between Fitzgerald and the merchant ship ACX Crystal. Read More