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Cruiser captain bullied and struck sailors before being relieved, Navy investigation finds
[Stars & Stripes] A Navy captain relieved of command of a San Diego-based cruiser last year battered and bullied sailors while creating a culture of fear through temper tantrums and public humiliation, according to a service investigation.Capt. Danielle DeFant’s toxic leadership aboard USS Lake Erie put the ship’s crew at higher risk of an accident, investigators concluded in an Oct. 2, 2023, command report. A copy of the report was first obtained and posted online by San Diego’s KPBS through a Freedom of Information Act request. DeFant made some sailors feel as if they were "walking on eggshells" and caused many of the nearly 50 officers assigned to the ship’s wardroom to fear giving her bad news, according to the report. "There is clear evidence that Captain DeFant’s recurrent, counterproductive behaviors have had adverse effects on subordinates and the command, and have had destructive effects on her crew," the report stated. DeFant, whose Navy career spans more than 30 years, was fired Oct. 12. She subsequently was transferred to commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific Fleet. Such headquarters reassignments are common while the Navy determines whether an officer relieved of duty for loss of confidence in their ability to command will remain in the service. DeFant was fired 10 days after the 25-page investigation report was sent to Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9. The report, which examines DeFant’s leadership after taking command of Lake Erie in July 2022, investigated complaints of toxic command culture and sexual discrimination. It included summaries of interviews with DeFant and at least 45 officers and other sailors. The report did not find evidence to substantiate the allegation of sexual discrimination. However, investigators concluded that DeFant’s repeated targeting of two officers on Lake Erie violated the service’s rules on bullying, the report states. DeFant also likely violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice when she grabbed a bridge officer by the collar and admonished him for speaking out of turn, investigators found. The names of the witnesses and other crew members were redacted in the report. Other sailors reported being hit, roughly pushed or nudged by DeFant. The captain characterized some of those encounters as an effort to get a sailor’s attention or correct them. Posted by: Besoeker 2024-02-01 |
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