Commander of US Navy’s aircraft carrier relieved of duty after collision with
The commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, Capt. Dave Snowden, was relieved of his duties on February 20 by the US Navy. This decision was made due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, took over the role temporarily until a new commanding officer is appointed. The incident leading to Snowden’s relief involved a collision with a merchant vessel, Besiktas-M, in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt.
A Change in Command:
Capt. Dave Snowden, who had been serving as the commanding officer of USS Harry S. Truman since December 2023, was relieved of his duties on February 20. Rear Adm. Sean Bailey took over as the interim commanding officer, while Capt. Christopher Hill, commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, will temporarily serve as the carrier’s commanding officer. The change in command comes amidst ongoing repairs on the ship’s starboard quarter following the collision.
The Collision Incident:
The collision between USS Harry S. Truman and the merchant vessel Besiktas-M occurred while the aircraft carrier was operating in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt. The incident led to the decision to relieve Capt. Dave Snowden of his command due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. The ship is currently undergoing emergent repair availability (ERAV) at US Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Greece, with an assessment team working on a repair plan.
The USS Harry S. Truman:
USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the US Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States. Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, the aircraft carrier has been involved in various deployments and missions. The ongoing repair work following the collision will ensure the ship’s readiness for future operations.
