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1-star relieved in alleged misconduct

A top shipbuilding officer was temporarily relieved of duty Thursday after the Naval Inspector General substantiated allegations of “personal misconduct” involving a subordinate, two Navy officials said.

Rear Adm. Charles Goddard was relieved as program executive officer for ships by John Thackrah, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.

Goddard’s case is under review by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Patrick Walsh, who will make a determination about what the next step for Goddard would be.

Rear Adm. Frank Thorp, the Navy’s chief of information, said the inspector general substantiated personal misconduct allegations against Goddard. Thorp said the allegations involved “inappropriate personal behavior with a subordinate in a social setting while on official travel.”

A Navy official familiar with the allegations who requested anonymity said the allegations dealt with “the way he treated women” and involved alcohol.

Thorp said the timeframe for the alleged misconduct was February 2007 through April of this year, noting the IG investigated “various events that Goddard attended in his official capacity in conjunction with ship commissionings and christenings.”

The inspector general opened an investigation after a complaint, Thorp said, although he didn’t know who made it, when the probe began or if more than one person filed a complaint. The IG report substantiated the allegations against Goddard, Thorp said, and Navy Secretary Donald Winter passed the report to CNO Adm. Gary Roughead.

Thorp said Roughead directed Walsh to review the report and take administrative action.

Goddard has been temporarily assigned to the staff of the chief of naval operations pending Walsh’s decision. Thorp said there are a range of potential outcomes, which include dismissal of the allegations, administrative counseling, admiral’s mast or referring charges to a court-martial.

Goddard submitted paperwork for retirement on June 10 to retire Dec. 1, but his retirement was not yet formally approved, Thorp said.

Goddard was nominated for a second star in May 2007, but the promotion proceedings have been put on hold, Thorp said.