Amphib CO, XO fired in fraternization case

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Cmdr. Christopher Stopyra, left, commanding officer of the dock landing ship Fort McHenry, and his executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Brian Goldschmidt, were relieved Thursday.


Amphib CO, XO fired in fraternization case
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Dec 11, 2009 18:55:03 EST

The commanding officer of the dock landing ship Fort McHenry was fired Thursday for fraternizing with a sailor on his ship, according to a Navy statement.

The executive officer also was fired for knowing about the relationship and not taking action, the statement said.

Cmdr. Christopher Stopyra and his XO, Lt. Cmdr. Brian P. Goldschmidt, were both removed after Stopyra received nonjudicial punishment at a captain’s mast Thursday, the statement from Naval Surface Forces Atlantic said. The statement did not disclose the nature of the punishment.

“The relationship between the commanding officer and the subordinate caused an erosion of morale and good order and discipline among the officers and crew,” Rear Adm. Michelle Howard, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, said in news release.

Stopyra, who had been in command since May 2009, was temporarily reassigned to a desk job with SurfLant. He was temporarily replaced by Capt. Skip Shaw pending arrival of the permanent replacement, the statement said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/12/UPnavy_fortmchenry_fired_121109w/