USS Bainbridge commanders relieved of duties

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- The Navy has relieved the senior leadership of the USS Bainbridge of their duties.

In a press release, a spokesperson says the Navy investigated Commander Sean Rongers for allegedly allowing gambling and storing fireworks on the ship, and for "poor program management and a poor command climate."

The Navy also fired the ship's former Executive Officer, Commander Brandon Murray, and Command Master Chief Richard Holmes.

Rongers had commanded Bainbridge since November 2014. Murray served as the ship's executive officer from October 2014 to March 2016. Holmes has served as Bainbridge's command master chief since November 2014.  All three have been reassigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic.

The removal of three top ship leaders is rare, according to the Navy Times. The last command triad to be relieved in full was in Fall 2014, when an investigation into a young deck seaman's suicide found widespread problems that prompted the Navy to fire the destroyer James E. Williams' CO, former XO and PCO and the CMC.

The current XO, Cmdr. Patrick Murphy, is still in place having checked onto the ship recently. Cmdr. Marty Robertson , former XO of the frigate Rentz, has taken charge of the ship.

Master Chief Todd Starks has temporarily assumed duties as command master chief, the release said.

Just this week, the Bainbridge was named as one of three Navy ships that will participate in New York Fleet Week 2016, from May 25 to May 31.

The Bainbridge just returned from a 7-month deployment to the 6th Fleet area -- patrolling waters off Europe and Africa -- on December 2, 2015.

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