Navy's U.S. 7th Fleet commander relieved of his job

The head of the Navy's U.S. 7th Fleet has been relieved of his command following a spate of ship mishaps over the past several months, the service announced today.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," according to a Navy statement.

Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, who has already been nominated and confirmed for the position and promotion to vice admiral, will assume command immediately.

Earlier this week, the destroyer John S. McCain (DDG-56) collided with the merchant vessel Alnic MC off the coast of Singapore, resulting in 10 sailors going missing. On June 17, the destroyer Fitzgerald (DDG-62) collided with a cargo tanker off the coast of Japan, resulting in the deaths of seven sailors.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson subsequently ordered an operational pause for all fleets worldwide, and directed a comprehensive review to determine the root cause of the recent collisions.