---
title: "Navy fires commanding officer of Texas training center"
description: "The Navy on Friday fired the commanding officer of the Naval Technical Training Center in Texas due to a \"loss of confidence\" in his ability to command, the service said in a statement."
date: "2020-09-12"
modified: "2020-09-12"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    job_title: "Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-lackland-training-relief/"
categories:
  - "Around the World"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "Navy"
  - "News"
  - "United States"
tags:
  - "Leadership"
  - "scandals"
---

# Navy fires commanding officer of Texas training center

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/arias-3.jpg>)

The Navy on Friday fired the commanding officer of the Naval Technical Training Center in Texas due to a "loss of confidence" in his ability to command, the service said in a statement.

Cmdr. Robert Arias was relieved of command of the Lackland-based training center by Capt. John Ferguson following an investigation that was not "criminal" in nature, according to a Navy spokesman.

Arias could face further punishment, said spokesman Cmdr. James Stockman, who declined to provide further details since the administrative matter is still "pending a final decision."

Arias was replaced by Cmdr. Brian Carroll, who assumed the duties "effective immediately," the Navy statement [said](<https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2345517/naval-technical-training-center-lackland-commanding-officer-relieved/>). Arias will be temporarily assigned to the Naval Education and Training Command in Pensacola, Fla.

This was the second relief of a Navy commanding officer [in as many weeks](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-reserve-portland-commander-relief/>). The Navy fired Cmdr. Erin Borozny, the commanding officer of reserve sailors in Portland, Ore. due to a "loss of confidence" in her abilities on Aug. 28.

A former enlisted sailor, Arias was commissioned into the Navy in 2000 and later served aboard several ships at sea, [according](<https://www.public.navy.mil/netc/centers/csf/nttc-lackland/Leadership.aspx?PID=1>) to his official biography. The New Mexico native also deployed to Iraq where he led intercostal waterway military and police transition teams.

He was promoted to commander in 2014.

## Author
Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com/>), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California.

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