USS Gunston Hall CO relieved of command

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Cmdr. Fred R. Wilhelm was relieved as the Commanding Officer of the Little Creek-based amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), on Thursday, due to what the Navy called a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

The relief occurred during an Admiral's Mast and came after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, simple assault, and conduct unbecoming an officer against Wilhelm.

Officials said Wilhelm had been reassigned to administrative duties at COMNAVSURFLANT.

Captain Mark H. Scovill, recently the Deputy Commander, Amphibious Squadron Eight, was named the new CO of the Gunston Hall. He will serve until the next Commanding Officer reports to the ship in December.

The Navy said the ship's former executive officer (XO), Cmdr. Kevin S. Rafferty, and former command master chief (CMC), CMDCM(SS) Wayne Owings, who were onboard at the time the incidents occurred, also received non-judicial punishment at the Admiral's Mast for failing to take action after repeated observations of inappropriate conduct.  The Navy also said Owings faced sexual harassment and simple assault charges for his conduct.

According to officials, the former XO and former CMC have reported to COMNAVSURFLANT for administrative duties.

Rafferty's relief arrived onboard Gunston Hall, as previously scheduled, on July 26. He immediately assumed the duties of XO and Rafferty transferred prior to the completion of the investigation. The new command master chief was previously scheduled to report July 30, and he too assumed the duties of CMC prior to the completion of the investigation.

The Gunston Hall returned to Hampton Roads over the July 4th weekend following a nearly six-month deployment that saw the ship participate in Haitian earthquake relief efforts and serve as the flagship for Africa Partnership Station (APS) West.