Nuclear Security & Deterrence Vol. 19 No. 12
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Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor
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March 24, 2015

Navy Commander in Part of Nuclear Enterprise Removed from Duty

By Mike Nartker

Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
3/20/2015

Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Naval Air Force (CNAP), relieved Capt. Heather Cole of her duties as the commander of Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW 1) and Task Force 124 (TF 124) at Tinker AFB, Okla., on March 17, because of a “loss in the commander’s ability to lead,” according to a Navy press release. The action resulted from the initial findings of an investigation that determined that Cole “had not performed up to the high standards demanded of an officer in command,” the release states. The Navy did not respond to NS&D Monitor requests for comment this week. Cole has been temporarily assigned to the CNAP staff pending the case’s final adjudication.

Capt. Brian McCormick, former deputy commander of SCW 1 and TF 124, has been assigned as acting commander of the wing and task force. SCW 1 reports to the Commander of Naval Air Forces and is responsible for manning, training and equipping Navy squadrons that conduct command, control and communications to the nuclear triad. TF 124 is an operational command that reports to the commander of U.S. Strategic Command and provides the airborne platform and aircrew for STRATCOM’s Airborne Command Post, the Airborne Launch Control System, the Non-Strategic Nuclear Forces Theater Commanders and the Emergency Action Message relay missions.

This story was corrected on March 24 to note that Capt. Heather Cole was relieved of her duties as commander of Strategic Communications Wing 1 and Task Force 124. Originally, the story incorrectly stated that Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker was relieved of his duties.

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