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Naval Support Activity North Potomac CO fired

The commanding officer of Naval Support Activity North Potomac was fired for a loss of confidence in his ability to command following non-judicial punishment Friday.

Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge, commandant of Naval District Washington, received a complaint regarding Cmdr. Scott Merritt on Nov. 23, according to Janet Mescus, a spokeswoman for the district. The allegations were substantiated in a subsequent investigation, which led to the dismissal.

Mescus refused to characterize the nature of the complaint, citing privacy laws.

Merritt will be reassigned within NDW, Mescus said. Cmdr. Dennis Quick, executive officer of NSA South Potomac, has temporarily been assigned as commander of NSA North Potomac.

Mescus said no other disciplinary action was taken against Merritt.

Merritt assumed command in June 2007. Naval Support Activity North Potomac oversees five naval support facilities including Arlington, Carderock, the Naval Observatory and Potomac Annex. The vice president’s residence is located at the Naval Observatory.

A native of Elizabethtown, Pa., Merritt received his commission in 1990. He was designated a surface warfare officer in 1993 and redesignated a fleet support officer in 1996. He has twice served as flag aide and has tours on the Pacific Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations staffs.

Merritt has a master’s degree in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Va.

Merritt is the fourth skipper fired in 2010. The others were:

• Capt. John Titus Jr., who was fired Jan. 8 from the Naval Supply Corps School in Georgia for a “lack of confidence in his ability to lead.” Titus’ removal followed a Judge Advocate General's investigation; a base spokesman declined to disclose the nature of the investigation.

• Capt. Holly Graf was fired Jan. 13 from the Yokosuka, Japan-based cruiser Cowpens after an inspector general’s investigation found problems with her “temperament and demeanor vis-a-vis her subordinates,” according to a spokesman for 7th Fleet.

• Capt. Glen Little was fired from Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C., after he was arrested Jan. 26 on a charge of solicitation.