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Top Three Fitzgerald Commanders Relieved Of Duty

Top Three Fitzgerald Commanders Relieved Of Duty
A diagram of the USS Fitzgerald's (DDG-62) collision in the Navy's line of duty investigation supplement. (Image: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy relieved of duty the top three officers of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) last Thursday months after the ship collided with a merchant vessel near Japan (Defense Daily, June 19).DDG-62’s commanding officer Cmdr. Bryce Benson, executive officer Cmdr. Sean Babbitt, and command master chief Master Chief Petty Officer Brice Baldwin were relieved by Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, commander of the Seventh Fleet, on Aug. 18.Benson, who was previously temporarily relieved of duty for medical reasons after being injured…

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