THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY

Bt Bob Walsh

                                

                                           Captain Danielle C. DeFant 

 

The navy has just relieved Captain Danielle DeFant of her duties as the commanding officer of the missile cruiser Lake Erie.  The vessel is based in San Diego and has recently undergone a major refit.  This was NOT Captain DeFant's first command.

She is the ninth commanding officer to be removed from command this year.  

The navy said very specifically that the action was taken due to the fact that her superior no longer has confidence in her ability to discharge her duties.  Her x/o and the senior enlisted person on board were NOT taken down in the action against DeFant.

DeFant began her naval service as a swabbie in 1991 and jumped to the officer ranks in 1999.  She served as the commander of the USS Paul Hamilton for 18 months ending in December of 2017.  

DeFant has been reassigned to the office of the commander of Naval Surface Force, USPACFLT.