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A submarine captain has been dismissed from his role because of a "loss of confidence" in his ability to perform the role, the U.S. Navy said.
In a statement released on Monday, January 15, the Navy revealed that Captain Geoffry Patterson was relieved of his duties as commander with USS Georgia Blue Crew. He was dismissed by Rear Admiral Thomas "T.R." Buchanan, who is commander of Submarine Group Ten.
The statement reads: "Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct. They are expected to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability, and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards."
A specific reason for his removal hasn't been made public at this time. The Navy also clarified there would be "no impact to operations" due to the dismissal.
Lt Spencer Marion told Newsweek: "Capt. Geoffry Patterson was relieved as commanding officer of USS Georgia (SSGN 729) Blue Crew due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. An investigation is being conducted and as a matter of policy, the Navy does not comment on ongoing investigations.
"Capt. Patterson has been reassigned to Submarine Group Ten on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA, while the investigation is being conducted."
According to Patterson's LinkedIn profile, he studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering between 1992 and 1997. According to military news website Task & Purpose, Patterson was later awarded a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
He then enlisted as a sailor before becoming a commander on the USS Georgia and the USS Maryland. According to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, Patterson took command of the USS Georgia in May 2022.
USS Georgia is now commanded by Navy Capt. Christopher Osborn, commanding officer of the boat's Gold Crew, according to Monday's news release.
The USS Georgia is a guided missile submarine that can carry up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is manned by a crew of 15 officers, according to the U.S. Navy website. Ohio-class guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with "unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealth, clandestine platform", according to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
It is one of four of its kind used by American forces, and is currently based out of King's Bay, Georgia, having previously been placed at Norfolk, Virginia.
About the writer
Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on Social Security, other government benefits ... Read more