Former USS Fitzgerald CO Benson to Retire as Commander Next Month
The former commander of a guided-missile destroyer that was involved in a fatal collision in 2017 will retire at his…
Former USS Fitzgerald CO Outlines Defense in Rebuttal to SECNAV
The former commander of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) is pushing back against a rebuke from the Secretary of the Navy, disputing…
USS Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer Receive Formal Censure Ahead of Dismissal of Negligence Charges
Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued formal letters of censure to the former commander and tactical action…
Navy Set to Drop All Criminal Charges Against Fitzgerald CO, Junior Officer; SECNAV Will Issue Letters of Censure
The Navy plans to drop all criminal charges against two officers for their roles in the 2017 fatal collision of…
Board Finds ‘No Basis’ to Remove Officer Involved in USS Fitzgerald Collision from Navy
A board of inquiry moved not to separate from service a sailor who the Navy had previously charged with negligent homicide for…
Military Judge Disqualifies Naval Reactors Director Caldwell from Overseeing Fitzgerald CO Trial
A military judge has disqualified Director of Naval Reactors Adm. Frank Caldwell from overseeing the upcoming negligence trial of the…
Second USS Fitzgerald Officer Defers Plea to Negligence, Hazarding a Vessel Charges
An officer charged with negligence for her role in the collision of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) reserved her right not to…
Navy Drops Homicide Charges Against USS Fitzgerald Commander, Junior Officers
This post has been updated to include statements from Cmdr. Bryce Benson and Lt. Natalie Combs. The former commander of…
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…
Navy Official Recommends No Criminal Trial for USS Fitzgerald Junior Officers
Two officers who faced negligent homicide charges for their role in the fatal June 2017 USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) collision have…