Former commanding officer of the elite Navy’s Blue Angels Capt. Gregory McWherter has been relieved of his duties while he is being investigated by the Navy for providing an “inappropriate command climate”
According to a filed complaint, McWherter tolerated and even encouraged sexual explicit comments among the members of his team. The statement reads that he used “lewd speech, inappropriate comments, and sexually explicit humor” while working. There are also allegations against McWherter for sharing pornographic photos at the office and through electronic correspondence.
“All Navy leaders, whether assigned to a highly visible unit like the ‘Blues,’ or to our installations, squadrons, ships and submarines, are held to the highest standards,” Vice Admiral David Buss, commander of the Naval Air Forces, said. “The Navy expects everyone, from those officers in command positions to sailors on the waterfront, to provide principled and highly ethical leadership, stressing discipline, accountability, and the importance of treating shipmates with dignity and respect.”
McWherter was relieved as executive officer of Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California, and has been reassigned to other duties while the investigation takes place. McWherter has served as the commanding officer of the Blue Angels on two separate occasions. First from November 2008 to November 2010, and then from May 2011 to November 2012. “If being with the Blue Angels was the last time I fly a Navy plane, that’s a pretty good way to go out,” he said, upon leaving his position in 2012.
“The decision was based on initial findings of an ongoing investigation into recent allegations of misconduct and an inappropriate command climate at the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla,” a Navy press release read.
McWherter has not responded to emails, from the media, seeking comments.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
