Navy commander ousted on sex harassment, assault charges

NORFOLK

The commanding officer of the Little Creek-based amphibious dock landing ship Gunston Hall was relieved of command Thursday after an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, simple assault and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Cmdr. Fred Wilhelm was ousted from his post by Rear Adm. Dave Thomas, commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic, due to loss of confidence in his ability to command, the Navy said. Wilhelm was reassigned to administrative duties during an admiral's mast, a nonjudicial disciplinary proceeding.

The ship's former executive officer, Cmdr. Kevin Rafferty, and former command master chief, Wayne Owings, who were on board when the incidents occurred, also received nonjudicial punishment for failing to take action after repeated observations of inappropriate conduct. Owings was also charged with sexual harassment and simple assault. He and Rafferty, like Wilhelm, have been assigned to administrative duties.

In addition, Wilhelm will forfeit a month's pay and Owings, a half-month's pay. All three received punitive letters of reprimand.

The incidents occurred during the Gunston Hall's recent six-month deployment off western Africa and the Mediterranean, which included four weeks assisting relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake. The ship returned to Norfolk on July 3.

The incidents occurred both on and off duty, on the ship and ashore, said Paul Taylor, a Navy spokesman. One of the charges involved drunk and disorderly conduct, he said. The charges were based on the allegations of two crew members, Taylor said. Citing privacy concerns, he declined to name them or to describe them by rank or gender.

The charges were handled administratively because they were not deemed severe enough for a court-martial, a judicial proceeding, Taylor said.

The charge of simple assault involved such acts as "poking and tickling" subordinates, he said.

The Navy takes such allegations seriously, Taylor said: "We do not tolerate this sort of conduct in the military."

He said the case is unrelated to that of Lt. Jerome Randolph, another Gunston Hall officer, who was sentenced to two years in jail and dismissed from the Navy in September after he acknowledged having sex in his stateroom with a 19-year-old woman in his chain of command. The woman testified that Randolph forced her to have sex. He contended that it was consensual.

Capt. Mark Scovill, recently the deputy commander of Amphibious Squadron 8, will command the Gunston Hall until the next commanding officer reports to the ship in December, the Navy said.

Rafferty and Owings rotated off the ship before the investigation was completed.

Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com