According to the US Navy, a submarine commander was let go from his position due to a lack of trust in his capacity to carry out the duties of his position.
The Navy said on January 15 that USS Georgia Blue Crew leader Captain Geoffry Patterson had been dismissed from his responsibilities. Submarine Group Ten Commander Rear Admiral Thomas T.R. Buchanan fired him.
According to the statement, Navy commanding officers are expected to maintain high professionalism and personal integrity. When they fail to meet the Navy’s expectations for dependability, leadership, and accountability, they will face consequences.
According to civilian records, sheriff’s deputies in the county where the submarine is stationed arrested and charged Captain Geoffry Patterson with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol four days before he was relieved of his command as commanding officer of the blue crew of the submarine Georgia.
The misdemeanor charges were brought against Patterson on January 8, and he was freed on bail hours later, as recorded in the jail log.
The Navy made it clear that the dismissal would not affect operations in any way.
Capt. Patterson has been reassigned to Submarine Group Ten on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA.
Once Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, the four guided missile submarines in the Navy’s fleet have all been modified to make them non-nuclear capable. In 2007, the Georgia underwent conversion. With the ability to transport special operations troops on clandestine missions, each guided missile boat is capable of carrying Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles.
A guided missile submarine with a crew of fifteen officers, the USS Georgia can transport up to one hundred fifty Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. According to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, the Ohio-class guided-missile submarines give the Navy unparalleled stealth and covert capabilities for strike and special operation missions.
According to a press release, the leadership of the USS Georgia has been passed on to Navy Capt. Christopher Osborn, who was formerly the commanding officer of the vessel’s Gold Crew.