On 6 November 2024, the United States Navy relieved Captain Lester Brown, Jr., from his position as commanding officer of the Navy Leadership and Ethics Command (NLEC) San Diego, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

The decision was made by Captain Shawn T. Bailey, the commander of the Naval Ethics and Leadership Center.

Following his removal, the U.S. Navy Captain Brown has been reassigned to the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. While specific reasons for the decision were not disclosed, the action reflects the Navy’s commitment to maintaining high standards of leadership within its ranks.

Two American naval commanders relieved of duty

In the interim, Captain Richard Zeber from the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island, has been appointed to lead NLEC San Diego temporarily. His assignment aims to ensure stability and continuity in the command’s mission and operations.

NLEC San Diego’s role is to provide leadership training and education for Navy officers who have not yet taken command positions, as well as to deliver courses for the Navy’s enlisted leader development programme. Captain Brown had held his command since September 2022.

In the context of military leadership, a “loss of confidence” refers to a commanding officer’s superiors no longer believing that the officer can effectively perform their duties or maintain the standards required for command. This can stem from a variety of reasons, such as concerns over leadership abilities, judgement, conduct, performance, or failure to meet specific expectations of responsibility.

However, the specific details behind a “loss of confidence” are often not disclosed publicly. In many cases, this phrase is used as a general explanation without detailing specific incidents or issues, as military institutions typically avoid disclosing internal matters related to personnel.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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20 COMMENTS

  2. I was a bit mystified by the photo at the top and wondered whether that was from the occasion of the dismissal!! A few drinks and some snacks afterwards? 🙂

  3. I think a voice from over the pond could put some useful input on this. Americans have a very different outlook on day to day life. The UCJ lays down firm guidelines. However individuals in command positions can put their own slant on things. For instance a company commander I came across insisted on prayers at the start of each day. There was a definite whiff of evangelical approach around him. I think if the same ethics applied in the UK there would a few more getting a pier head jump.
    It would be interesting to hear from over the water. I have a gut feeling this one is connected to a matter we would take no action on.

    • He was relieved over a matter of “personal conduct” not involving another sailor. And,he was relieved after a command investigation which indicates no criminal activity. The “personal conduct” could mean any number of things, but it does not involve “command issues.”

      • As I said a matter we would take no action. You can read between the lines and in our system would probably be put down to a personal matter.

    • ExR, wading in from across the pond. RN currently embedded with the USN.

      You are completely correct the Command climate surrounding the position of ‘CO’ is far from what we would recognize. Religion, as you hint at, plays a far wider part of routines than many Brits would be comfortable with. Any ship with a Chaplain (which is being broadened to include all escorts) will have evening prayers whilst underway and normally multiple-services daily services.
      Whilst local, I don’t have the gen on this one. But whilst we see a consistent flow of US COs being removed it is important to note the scale. ‘Post-It math’ would probably see the trend as similar to British CO’s getting removed. Given that, the USN takes a fairly no nonsense approach and the “loss of confidence in the ability to Command” statement is arguably overused to remove COs for the problems outwith of their purview (a recent example is an operational CO getting removed for a Chief setting up a secret Starlink terminal onboard a ship).
      The other huge thing is the USN very much takes the 24/7 Duty part of being in COmmand very seriously. Many (including mine) delete social media for the period of their Command tour. Another member fo the Command has stopped drinking whilst they are in the position of responsibility (c.36 months!) as they are concerned that should the Admiral ring, they must be able to react no matter what; or consequently be sacked…
      The danger is – as I see in my Command – there is a zero-tolerance attitude towards risk. The culture of the Command gets degraded as anything that could go wrong is simply cancelled. Limited social, limited training, limited debate outside of what is doctrinally acceptable. This results in a sterile environment where the juniors are unlikely to challenge and grow, and where the Command hierarchy are constantly scared of getting the boot.

      The question is whether this culture is more or less damaging than allowing them a little more freedom to Command in their own unique style. It could be argued that keeping people scared – and I genuinely believe they are – just teaches the Command to be dishonest, to hide bad stuff and not support their juniors who get in trouble.

      • Thanks for your input. Interesting to see you are having similar experiences to myself thirty years ago. Obviously yourself from the Andrew and USN myself the Corps and USMC. In my time you could months and not see the Skypilot in a Commando unit. In the US it was hard to avoid him daily. Most Ogroups started with a prayer. Often giving thanks for a newborn child to a unit member. We even prayed for a senior officer to make a speedy recovery from what seemed as I recall something routine. When the MEU went ashore the church Marquee was swiftly put in place. Again not done by the UK. I always felt the UCMJ sat on the shelf with a good book and used to wonder which took precedence at times.
        Again you speakof numbers and ratios which I agree on. Many UK forces have worked alongside our counterparts from the US on exercises. However to fully grasp the US and their military you really have to live it as you are. I found the power of the US military bewildering. Two days at sea on a carrier was an eye opener. Night flying and seeing Tomcats appear out of the dark frankly crashing on deck out of nowhere. Watching from the island was scary enough. Walking the flight deck and hangar outside of flying stations aircraft tucked in every corner. The power of a carrier air wing struck home. We sadly are deluding ourselves with the QE and F35B.
        I was very much on a Boon dogger, so had license to roam. Sunny Point, Bragg, Paris Island, Quantico, West Coast, Jacksonville, San Diego, Norfolk and overseas I crammed in as much as I could.
        It certainly gave me an insight to the way USA ticks. Most Americans could not point out the UK on a map. A huge amount did not understand the difference between the Queen and the Prime minister. Which makes them sound bad. In fairness most UK citizens could not explain the City,County, State and Federal system their taxes,policing, and laws.
        One thing was for sure in my time, as a US officer you and your wife and family attended church on Sunday. Unless you had a good excuse. Usually on a Thursday and Friday you could hear young officers telling loudly of their plans to visit Mom and Dad this weekend. Failing to go to church without a valid reason could not be punished by the UCMJ or by the other book. If your CO had that evangelical hint it was brave man or fool to risk it.
        Enjoy your time as Limey over the pond. I loved it and still have friends there from my time. Met up this year with a then 2LT in Llandudno of all places. He was on vacation with a family group. Now retired of course. He keeps me abreast of the USMC of today. Broadly speaking though his thoughts chime with yours.
        Thanks again.

  4. Woke is walking the plank 🏳️‍🌈 😁 Don the maniac wants peace not war, the hawks are “FIRED” the Houthis want peace, the Arabs want peace, Russia wants peace and China wants peace. The doves are in.😂
    The old maxim ‘if you want peace prepare for war’ may just save our civilization. ❤️✌️

    • Trump is selling out to putin ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN WHEN TRUMP IGNORED PUTIN MASSING TROOPS ON UKRAINE’S BOARDER RIDICULING THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE, HES PUTIN’S PATSY, ITS NOT HiS LAND TO GIVE AWAY, NONE OF THEM CAN BE TRUSTED TO HAVE ANY ONES BEST INTEREST EXCEPT THEIR OWN…

  6. The next day a female Commander was relieved from her command as CO of the Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego due to personal misconduct (see USNI). I’m not saying these two cases are related, but it makes one wonder whether there are any dots to connect.

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