Growler squadron CO fired on deployment - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Growler squadron CO fired on deployment

SAN DIEGO – The commander of an EA-18G Growler jet squadron on deployment in the Middle East was fired for what officials said is an “alcohol-related incident” in Bahrain last week, the Navy said Tuesday.

Cmdr. Karl Pugh, who commands the Whidbey Island, Wash.-based Electronic Attack Squadron 141, was relieved of command Tuesday by Capt. Jeffrey A. Davis “following non-judicial punishment proceedings for an alcohol-related incident that occurred July 12 during a port visit to Manama,” 5th Fleet officials said in a statement.

Davis commands Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, which is on its maiden operational deployment.

Pugh, 41, will return to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for reassignment, said Cmdr. Pauline Storum, a Naval Air Forces spokeswoman.

Navy officials provided no details of the incident.

The squadron executive officer, Cmdr. Michael J. Miller, has assumed command of VAQ-141, which is the first Growler squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier for overseas duty, Storum said.

Pugh, of Montgomery, Ala., was designated a naval flight officer in 1995 and reported to VAQ-136 in Japan, according to Navy personnel records. After assignment to an exchange program in Scotland, he reported in 2001 to Carrier Air Wing 5 in Yokosuka, Japan, and later did a second tour with VAQ-136. He was assigned to VAQ Wing Pacific in Whidbey Island in 2006. In December 2008, he joined VAQ-141 as its executive officer.

Pugh is a 1992 Naval Academy graduate, according to his profile on the LinkedIn online networking site.

Pugh’s military awards and decorations include the Air Medal (fourth strike/flight award); five Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals; Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Navy Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy 'E' Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.