Commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Diligence temporarily relieved for cause

Portsmouth, Va. –Vice Adm. Robert C. Parker, commander of the Coast Guard&amprsquos Atlantic Area right here, has temporarily relieved the commanding officer of a Wilmington, N.C., based mostly cutter citing a reduction in self-confidence in the officer&amprsquos capability to command.

Cmdr. Harry Schmidt, the commanding officer of the 210-foot cutter Diligence, currently on patrol in the Caribbean, has been temporarily assigned to Coast Guard District seven pending the ultimate outcomes of an administrative investigation. Although the investigation has not been finalized, the conditions that precipitated this action are associated with a grounding previous month.

Cmdr. Teri Jordan, the commanding officer of the Pascagoula, Skip., primarily based Coast Guard Cutter Decisive, has assumed short-term command to guarantee continuity of command, unit readiness, conduct teaching and run the ship for the duration of the remainder of the patrol and return to homeport in Wilmington.

Coast Guard operations have not been impacted.

The Diligence is a 210-foot Reliance class cutter with a crew complement of approximately 75 officers and enlisted members.

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