Navy relieves Bahrain network CO - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy relieves Bahrain network CO

The officer responsible for the Navy’s computer networks across the Middle East was fired Saturday after an investigation discovered she was carrying on “inappropriate relationships” with other people in her command, the service announced.

Cmdr. Mary Ann Giese, of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Bahrain, was relieved of command by Rear Adm. Edward Deets, head of Naval Network Warfare Command, after “a preliminary investigation into allegations that she had been involved in inappropriate relationships with other Navy personnel,” according to a statement from 10th Fleet. “The investigation results call into question Giese’s ability to continue to effectively lead in her command.”

The executive officer of NCTS Bahrain, Lt. Cmdr. Donald E. Hocutt, has temporarily taken command until the Navy names a permanent replacement.

The office is the hub of the Navy’s information network in the Middle East, said 10th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Steve Mavica — it oversees e-mail, secure and non-secure networks, and almost every other information link for Navy units in Central Command. Giese’s relief was not expected to have any effect on the Navy’s computer networks.

Giese, who took command in January 2009, has been temporarily reassigned to the staff of Naval Support Activity Bahrain “pending transfer from Bahrain,” the Navy announcement said.

She is a 1992 graduate of the Naval Academy, according to her official biography, and her career has included posts throughout the Navy’s lesser-known world of information network support: Giese’ tours have included time as the fleet telecommunications operations center watch officer for the Pacific Region Network Operations Center; service on the staff of Carrier Strike Group 12; and as a battle watch captain for Naval Network Warfare Command.

Giese is the 13th skipper fired in 2010 and the third since Aug. 12. Fifteen commanding officers were fired in 2009, according to Navy and Navy Times records. Since 2000, 145 Navy skippers have been relieved for cause — or, from 2000 through last year, an average of 13.2 firings per year. The highest annual total over that time span, 26 firings, was recorded in 2003.