WASHINGTON - The commander of the USS Constitution was relieved of duty because of a "loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command," a Navy spokesman said Thursday.
The Navy declined to provide specifics about why Commander Thomas C. Graves was removed as senior officer of the historic warship, known as "Old Ironsides." GravesÂ’ removal, however, was not the result of disciplinary action, said a Navy spokesman, Commander Jeff A. Davis. "The decision to relieve him was an administrative matter that was based solely upon the senior officerÂ’s assessment of Commander GraveÂ’s ability to command effectively," said Davis.
Graves, who took command in July 2005, had been about two months away from completing his two-year tenure aboard the Constitution, said Davis. He was the 69th commander of the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world. He has been temporarily assigned to Surface Warfare Officers School Command in Newport, R.I, Davis said.
Commander William A. Bullard III assumed command of the Constitution on Thursday morning. Bullard had been scheduled to take command in July. |