Fired Cowpens CO to get ‘honorable’ retirement - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Fired Cowpens CO to get ‘honorable’ retirement

Capt. Holly Graf, relieved as commanding officer of the cruiser Cowpens in January 2010 for cruelty, will retire with an honorable characterization of her service this year, overturning the recommendation of her board of inquiry, the Navy said in a statement released late on Friday.

The determination was made by Juan Garcia, assistant Navy secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, after he took into account her 26 years of service.

“Ultimately, Capt. Graf’s conduct fell short of that expected of our commanding officers,” Garcia said in the statement. “As a result, her non-judicial punishment, early transfer from command and early retirement are warranted. However, I have also determined that her conduct did not rise to a level sufficient to warrant the characterization of her service as less than honorable, especially when weighed against the totality of her service to the Navy.”

The three-member board of inquiry recommended in December 2010 that Graf retire with general conduct, the category below honorable.

Graf is expected to retire in March as an O-6, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Alana Garas.

As commander of the Cowpens and as CO of the destroyer Winston S. Churchill before that, Graf verbally abused and belittled her subordinates, the Navy’s investigation said. She threw items, grabbed and poked crew members, refused to speak with some on the ship and reduced junior officers to tears, according to both the investigation and sailors who worked for Graf.