U.S. Navy Fires Commander of USS Harry S. Truman After Collision with Civilian Ship

In a press release from the US Navy it is announced that the commander in charge of the aircraft carrier USS Harry Trumn, that collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Egypt last week has been removed from command.

Capt. Dave Snowden was removed from command of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Thursday, according to a Congressional notification and an official press release.

Snowden was removed due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command following the Feb. 12 collision between Truman and the merchant vessel MV Besiktas-M off the coast Egypt, near the entrance to the Suez Canal.

The late night collision damaged the aircraft carrier, piercing the hull above the waterline on the starboard quarter of the ship and damaging a sponson located aft of its starboard elevator. No injuries were reported.

“Damage assessed includes the exterior wall of two storage rooms and a maintenance space. External to the ship, damage assessed includes a line handling space, the fantail and the platform above one of the storage spaces,” read a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet earlier in the week.

“Aircraft elevator number three sustained no damage and is fully operational.”

The carrier, which deployed in September, is in port in Souda Bay, Greece for inspection and repairs, the service said this week.

Snowden is a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a career fighter pilot. Prior to Truman, he was Truman’s executive officer and commanded amphibious warship USS San Antonio (LPD-17).

The release states: Snowden was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, after serving as the aircraft carrier’s commanding officer since December 2023. Snowden will be temporarily assigned to Naval Air Forces Atlantic.

The relief occurred after Truman was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M on Feb. 12, while operating in the Mediterranean Sea in the vicinity of Port Said, Egypt.

The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met. Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and their ships.

Capt. Christopher Hill, commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), will temporarily serve as Harry S. Truman’s interim commanding officer.

Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard after completing a nine-month deployment to U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command in July 2024.

There is no impact to Harry S. Truman’s mission or schedule due to the relief. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

Commander Snowden's official bio says he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace engineering. He earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in 2016.

As an aviator, he served in sea duty assignments including junior officer tours with the “Scouts” of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 24 and the “Mighty Shrikes” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, department head with the “Kestrels” of VFA-137, and commander of VFA-25 “Fist of the Fleet”. He completed multiple deployments aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), flying combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. After completion of nuclear power training Captain Snowden served as the executive officer onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). His most recent sea duty assignment was Commanding Officer of USS San Antonio (LPD 17).

Snowden’s shore duty assignments include instructor pilot and department head at the “Rough Raiders” of VFA-125, Strike Fighter and Carrier Air Wing Placement Officer at Navy Personnel Command, executive officer with the VFA-122 “Flying Eagles”, and as Joint Exercise Division Chief, Joint Staff J-7.

CAPT Snowden’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Strike / Flight Air Medal (2 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal, unit, and service awards.

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