{"id":27667,"date":"2021-07-23T20:45:11","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T20:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/07\/23\/us-coast-guard-academy-permanently-relieves-former-command-master-chief-wont-say-why\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:35:50","slug":"us-coast-guard-academy-permanently-relieves-former-command-master-chief-wont-say-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/07\/23\/us-coast-guard-academy-permanently-relieves-former-command-master-chief-wont-say-why\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Coast Guard Academy permanently relieves former command master chief"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The former enlisted leader of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy who abruptly resigned in April and was subsequently investigated on accusations of \u201calleged inappropriate conduct\u201d was permanently relieved earlier this month, but Academy officials are refusing to explain why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Master Chief Brett VerHulst\u2019s<\/a> resignation in April, academy superintendent Rear Adm. William Kelly reassigned him to another command as VerHulst awaited retirement orders and an investigation commenced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email late Friday afternoon, academy spokesman David Santos said Kelly \u201cpermanently relieved\u201d VerHulst on July 9 but declined to provide a specific reason for the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile the investigation is complete, we will not comment on the specifics of the investigation to protect the rights and privacy of other individuals involved,\u201d Santos told Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santos said that the investigation \u201cfound no evidence of sexual assault, sexual contact or sexual harassment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t