Navy Fires 3 Leaders at Yokosuka Ship Repair Facility Over Loss of Confidence
Updated
Updated · Task & Purpose · Jun 3
Navy Fires 3 Leaders at Yokosuka Ship Repair Facility Over Loss of Confidence
3 articles · Updated · Task & Purpose · Jun 3
Summary
Three senior leaders at the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka were relieved Wednesday: commanding officer Capt. Wendel Penetrante, executive officer Capt. Edwin Catubig and command master chief Thomas Dean Howell.
The Navy said only that the firings stemmed from a "loss of confidence in their ability to command," offering no further explanation for the rare removal of an entire leadership team.
The Yokosuka facility handles intermediate- and depot-level repairs for Navy ships supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, making the shake-up notable for a key maintenance hub in Japan.
On May 12, the Navy had praised the center for returning 7 ships to the fleet this year on time or ahead of schedule, underscoring the lack of public detail behind the dismissals.