Navy Relieves Destroyer Commander After Caribbean Crash
23rd February 2026
The commander of the Navy destroyer USS Truxtun was removed from the ship on Sunday, “due to a loss of confidence” in his ability to command, following the ship colliding with a supply vessel earlier this month.
This afternoon the Navy said that the head of Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, relieved Cmdr. James Koffi of command of the Truxtun. Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, previously with the U.S. Fleet Forces Command was named the interim commander of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Koffi has been reassigned to Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic.
As i predicted.
The USS Truxtun is only a few weeks into its deployment to the Caribbean, having left Naval Station Norfolk near the beginning of February (after a brief return to port for repairs). On Feb. 11, the ship was being replenished at sea by the oil supply ship the USNS Supply. Video taken onboard the Supply, and verified by the BBC, showed the Truxtun veering to starboard during the replenishment, hitting the oiler. The crash remains under investigation, the Navy said on Sunday.