{"id":40770,"date":"2023-06-12T22:36:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T22:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/06\/12\/censured-skipper-from-aav-disaster-removed-from-carrier-command-list\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:00:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:00:34","slug":"censured-skipper-from-aav-disaster-removed-from-carrier-command-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/06\/12\/censured-skipper-from-aav-disaster-removed-from-carrier-command-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Censured skipper from AAV disaster removed from carrier command list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Navy captain who was commanding the amphibious transport dock Somerset in 2020 when a fatal Marine Corps assault amphibious vehicle mishap<\/a> occurred will not be going on to command an aircraft carrier, Navy officials confirmed Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy Capt. John W. Kurtz<\/a> commanded the amphibious transport dock Somerset<\/a> on July 30, 2020, when the amphibious assault vehicle sunk off California, killing eight Marines and a sailor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A platoon of amphibious assault vehicles left the Somerset on the evening of the mishap and used two other amphibious assault vehicles as safety boats, because other boats promised by the Somerset were not operational, an investigation found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro issued Kurtz a censure letter in June 2022<\/a> that noted that an investigation into the sinking \u201cdid not establish that any of USS SOMERSET\u2019s actions or inactions caused the sinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it also states that Kurtz failed in his duties to oversee amphibious assault vehicle operations as the primary control officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the primary control officer, you ultimately bear responsibility to ensure positive control and leadership oversight over waterborne AAV operations and you failed to do so,\u201d Del Toro wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\t