The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
Dee Mewbourne, the Navy captain who led the aircraft carrier Enterprise on its recent deployment to the Middle East, has been named interim commanding officer of the carrier Harry S. Truman after the sudden death of its skipper.
Capt. Tushar Tembe, 49, died Tuesday in Portsmouth, where the Norfolk-based Truman is moored for repairs. He collapsed moments after stepping off the ship. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
In the hours after Tembe's death, the Truman's executive officer, Capt. Craig Clapperton, assumed the skipper's duties.
In a news release issued Thursday, the Navy said Mewbourne will now take over for Clapperton, who will resume his role as second-in-command. Mewbourne will remain in command until a permanent replacement is assigned, the Navy said.
Mewbourne, 50, was most recently in command of the Enterprise. He took the helm just days before the ship left for a seven-month deployment this January, after the carrier's previous skipper, Capt. Owen P. Honors, was fired over a series of controversial videos he made for the crew.
Mewbourne had been at Navy Cyber Forces. Before that, he served as commanding officer aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The Navy said the permanent Truman commanding officer will be named from a group of captains who were recently selected for carrier command but who haven't yet received orders to a specific ship.
"That process is presently under way and is expected to be completed soon," the release said.
Corinne Reilly, (757) 446-2949, corinne.reilly@pilotonline.com
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New CV record?
This is the third carrier command Capt Mewbourne has had. It must be some sort of command record for carriers. Good job.
record
I'm sure someone knows, but I don't. This should be a record, althought
an unwanted one, for one man to command three different carriers.
CAPT Mewbourne
Thanks to CAPT Mewbourne for stepping up when needed once again. Command of a carrier is no small task. Twice now, he has stepped up to lead on no notice. Thanks to him and especially his family for making that sacrifice.
Capt Tembe's passing a loss to the "Old School"
I was assigned to Ike as the DCA for a tenant command during Capt. Tembe's tour as XO. As an "Old School" Chief, I often butted heads with senior officers, and thought that the white glove approach to leadership was a waste of time and a threat to readiness and discipline. Capt. Tembe allowed his CPO mess to lead. This was not only a great Officer, but a great man. He genuinely cared about his crew and their families. The Navy lost a great one Tuesday and even though I am retired, I am saddened that his life, and his career were cut short. The real losers in this are the young sailors that won't get the opportunity to serve with Capt. Tembe and see how it is supposed to be done. You don't get what he did from any Military Leadership course or school