A week after the Philippine media reported that the destroyer Stethem had run over a small canoe near Subic Bay, the ship’s skipper has been fired.
Cmdr. John Bradford was relieved by his immediate superior “due to loss of confidence in Bradford’s ability to command,” according to a Task Force 70 statement released Friday.
Bradford’s relief is related to the incident with the canoe, the release said, and the investigation is ongoing.
“The decision to relieve Bradford came after a recent incident involving a 19-foot wooden vessel reportedly hit by Stethem while the ship was underway from Subic Bay, Philippines, Oct. 13,” the release said.
According to Philippine media reports, the unlit canoe crossed Stethem’s course around 8:36 p.m. The boat’s occupants dove into the ocean to avoid the collision and were rescued uninjured by Stethem’s crew.
Capt. Chris Sweeney, the deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15, is in command of the boat until a permanent replacement is named, the release said.
The Stethem, which is based in Japan, is on patrol in 7th Fleet.
Bradford is a Cornell grad who has served on the destroyer John S. McCain and the dock landing ship Fort McHenry. He has also served tours on Stethem as combat systems officer, engineering officer and executive officer.
Bradford did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
He has been reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the release said.
