Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the Navy’s decision to fire the captain of a nuclear aircraft carrier who had urged military leadership to act faster to protect his crew from the coronavirus.
Former Capt. Brett Crozier commanded the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt before he was fired on Thursday. On Monday, Crozier sent a letter to top Navy officials requesting their help evacuating sailors from his carrier and cleansing the ship after dozens of servicemen in the 400-person crew tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The Roosevelt docked in Guam after the coronavirus was found to have spread to sailors on board, including the captain himself. The Navy is now working to offload most of the sailors to isolation quarters on shore while a skeleton crew stays on the Roosevelt to manage the nuclear reactor and sanitize the ship.
Esper appeared on CNN on Sunday and said removing Crozier was necessary to maintain accountability.
“It was based on his view that he had lost faith and confidence in the captain based on his actions. It was supported by Navy leadership,” Esper said. “And I think it’s just another example of how we hold leaders accountable for their actions.”
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly fired Crozier for sending the letter that pleaded for quicker action to save his crew. Modly said that Crozier failed to follow the proper chain of command to make his request, according to Politico.
