The commanding officer of the forward-deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), Cmdr. John Bradford, was relieved by Capt. Shan Byrne, commander, Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 15, Oct. 24, due to loss of confidence in Bradford’s ability to command.
The decision to relieve Bradford came after a recent incident involving a 19-foot wooden vessel reportedly hit by Stethem while the ship was underway from Subic Bay, Philippines, Oct. 13. No one was injured. The investigation is still in progress.
Stethem is now commanded by Capt. Chris Sweeney, deputy commodore of CDS 15, who will serve as a temporary relief. Bradford has been reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 15.
Stethem is currently on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
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Press release, Image: US Navy