--- title: "Navy fires commander of destroyer USS Stout" description: "Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Applebaugh was relieved for a \"loss of confidence in his ability to command\" the guided-missile destroyer USS Stout." date: "2023-06-05" modified: "2023-06-05" authors: - name: "Max Hauptman" job_title: "Breaking News Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/max-hauptman/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-uss-stout-commander-fired/" categories: - "Military Branches" - "Navy" - "News" --- # Navy fires commander of destroyer USS Stout ![navy destroyer uss stout commander fired]() *Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Applebaugh was relieved of command of the USS Stout on June 2. (U.S. Navy photo)* The commander of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout was fired on June 2 for a "loss of confidence," according to a Monday statement from the Navy. Commander Jeffrey L. Applebaugh was fired by Capt. Blair Guy, Commodore of the Norfolk-based Destroyer Squadron 28, as commander of the USS Stout for “[loss of confidence in his ability to command]().” Applebaugh took command of the ship in October 2022. He has been reassigned to the staff of the commander of Naval Forces Atlantic in the interim, according to the Navy statement. [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news and culture in your inbox daily.** Naval Surface Force Atlantic spokesperson Lieutenant Commander David J. Carter would not discuss the circumstances of Applebaugh's removal but said no further disciplinary action was anticipated. "There are no additional ongoing investigations related to the relief," Carter told Task & Purpose Monday. "The ship is currently in a maintenance phase in Norfolk and the relief will have no impact to the mission or schedule." On Saturday, the ship’s Facebook page posted what appeared to be a farewell message to Applebaugh. “Thank you for your dedication, your kindness, your professionalism, your compassion, your understanding, your commitment to the ship and it’s crew, and their safety and well-being, your knowledge, and your mentorship. Most of all, thank you for always putting the ship and the crew first. Good luck, and we will continue to get STOUT ready for battle,” [read]() the post. Applebaugh is the latest of several Navy commanders to be fired in 2023. In May, the [captain]() and [executive officer]() of the USS John Finn, another Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer stationed in Japan, were both fired following a Navy investigation. The [Navy]() announced the relief of two skippers on the same day in January, Cmdr. Alexa Jenkins of the USS Carney and Capt. Michael D. Nordeen of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **Air Force said** [**AI drone killed its human operator**]() **in a simulation** - **The Army says it’s made ‘significant improvements’ to its** [**troubled new infantry squad vehicle**]() - [**What we know**]() **about China’s hacking of Navy systems** - **Taliban moving** [**captured US military vehicles**]() **and Soviet tanks to Iranian border** - **Five juveniles arrested for** [**attack on Marines**]() **caught on video** ## Author Max Hauptman is a former breaking news reporter at Task & Purpose. He previously worked at The Washington Post as a Military Veterans in Journalism Fellow, as well as covering local news in New England. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Instagram]()