The Navy on Friday fired the captain in charge of the two riverine boats that were seized by Iran this year.
Capt. Kyle Moses, the commander of Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 56, was removed from his post “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” according to a Navy release.
Moses has been temporarily reassigned to the Naval Forces Central Command staff, but being removed from commanding positions often leads to the end of a career.
Two U.S. Navy riverine command boats accidentally entered Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf in January due to a mix of navigational errors and engine failure. The 10 sailors on board were detained overnight by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who later released videos of the sailors crying and apologizing for their actions.
The firing comes as the Navy recently finished its full investigation of the incident.
“Several weeks ago, I had initially taken what I felt was appropriate administrative and corrective action involving Capt. Moses based on the preliminary results of the investigation, which I began immediately after we recovered our Sailors,” said Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander of Naval Forces Central Command. “However, after thoroughly examining the findings of the final, comprehensive investigation, I determined that this additional action was necessary.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson is expected to brief the press on Thursday at the Pentagon on the full details of the investigation and steps forward, including possible additional punishment for other sailors involved in the incident.
