U.S. Navy Relieves Executive Officer Of Secret Attack Submarine Used For Covert Operations:Reports

The U.S. Navy on Sunday relieved the executive officer of its secret attack submarine, USS Jimmy Carter, as they had lost confidence in his personal judgment, reports said.

Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Cebik, who was the executive officer of USS Jimmy Carter, was relieved from his duties and administratively reassigned to another squadron, Stars and Stripes reported. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Osborne will take his position as the new executive officer on board the secret attack submarine.

According to an email statement sent by Cmdr. Cindy Fields, a navy spokeswoman, Cebik’s personal conduct had raised questions, which were being investigated by the U.S Navy.

“The Navy is investigating questions that have arisen with respect to Lt. Cmdr. (Jonathan) Cebik’s personal conduct," she said in the statement. “The U.S. Navy holds its leaders, including executive officers, to very high standards and they are held accountable when those standards are not met.”

“Executive officers are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their sailors and their ships, and are expected to maintain the Navy’s high standards for leadership. They must demonstrate character and competence in their conduct at all times," the statement said.

Cebik has been reassigned to Submarine Development Squadron 5, under Capt. Lincoln Reifsteck. According to Navy Times, Reifsteck’s squadron is responsible for maintenance and operation, along with the development of underwater weapons.

Cebik, a Connecticut native, becomes one of the several officers to be fired or reassigned in the past week.

Cebik had been previously described as an “incredible asset” by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, who presided over his promotion to lieutenant commander on Sept. 7, 2016.

Cebik was assigned as the executive officer to the nuclear-powered submarine in 2018. He had previously served on both Los-Angeles class fast attack submarine and Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.

The USS Jimmy Carter which is a Seawolf-class, fast attack submarine has been docked at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base, (Wash.). It is one of the fiercest and most secretive submarines in the U.S. Navy, which has been designed to carry out covert operations.