Commander of Pearl Harbor-based sub stripped of duties for misconduct
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
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The commanding officer of the Pearl Harbor-based fast-attack submarine USS Chicago was stripped of command yesterday after he was found guilty of drunkenness and conduct unbecoming an officer during an ROTC visit last week, the Navy said.
Cmdr. Jeff Cima, who took command of the Chicago on Aug. 7, 2009, has been temporarily assigned to the staff of Submarine Squadron 3, said U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Dave Benham.
Cima was relieved of command yesterday following what's known as a captain's mast, an administrative review that does not entail a court-martial, officials said. The drunkenness occurred at a Navy ROTC visit on March 10, Benham said. He said he couldn't identify what ROTC program was involved for privacy reasons.
Benham said Cima was relieved of command for misconduct and loss of confidence in his ability to command. The charges that the Navy said Cima was found guilty of are a career-ender in the Navy.
"Beyond the charges and the outcome of his relief, and the fact that the incident took place at an ROTC visit, I can't be more specific than that," Benham said.