A sailor assigned to USS George Washington (CVN-73) died last week from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the carrier, USNI News has learned. According to a determination from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, Master-at-Arms Seaman Recruit Xavier Hunter Mitchell-Sandor died from suicide by gunshot wound on April 15. A spokeswoman from […]
USNI News
Hawaii Attack Boat CO Removed Amid Command Climate Investigation After Sailor Death
April 29, 2021 4:19 PM
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility successfully undocked USS Charlotte (SSN-766) on Jan. 26, 2021. US Navy Photo
The commander of a Hawaii-based submarine was removed during an investigation prompted with the suicide of a sailor last month.
Cmdr. Joseph Lautenslager, commander of USS
Charlotte (SSN-766), was relieved by Submarine Squadron 7 commander Capt. Michael Majewski “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to serve as commanding officer,” reads a late Wednesday release from the Navy.
Cmdr. Joseph Lautenslager
A Navy official told USNI News the relief was due in large part to “command climate and leadership failures,” revealed in an investigation following the March 17 death by suicide of a sailor on watch aboard the submarine.