Move Could Spell The End Of Capt. Owen Honors Career

Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), has permanently relieved Capt. Owen Honors (pictured) of his duties as commanding officer of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) for demonstrating poor judgment while serving as executive officer of that ship.

"The responsibility of the commanding officer for his or her command is absolute. While Capt. Honors' performance as commanding officer of USS Enterprise has been without incident, his profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to continue to serve effectively in command," said Harvey in an official Navy news release.

Four years ago, Capt. Owen Honors, then the Executive Officer of the U.S.S Enterprise, made a series of videos that were played over the ship's closed-circuit television system in what he said was an effort to boost morale. The videos contained what some said was "crude" humor, reportedly making derogatory references to gays and objectifying women. ABC News reports that when the videos were leaked to a newspaper in Virginia, Honors, who had been promoted to Captain of the Enterprise, was temporarily relieved of command while the incidents were investigated. Tuesday's action makes that removal permanent. He has been assigned to administrative desk duty in Norfolk, and while he is not expected to be discharged from the Navy, it is widely expected that the removal from command will end his chances at career advancement.

"The foundation of our success in the Navy lies in our ability to gain and hold the trust of our Sailors, including through personal example. This responsibility is so important that it is written into Navy Regulations. When confidence and trust are lost in those who lead, we fail. After personally reviewing the videos created while serving as executive officer, I have lost confidence in Capt. Honors' ability to lead effectively, and he is being held accountable for poor judgment and the inappropriate actions demonstrated in the videos that were created while he served as executive officer on Enterprise," said Harvey.

U.S.S. Enterprise 2007 Photo

"It is fact that as naval officers we are held to a higher standard. Those in command must exemplify the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment, which we expect our Sailors to follow. Our leaders must be above reproach and our Sailors deserve nothing less," said Harvey.

Capt. Dee Mewbourne will be permanently assigned as the commanding officer of Enterprise. Mewbourne most recently commanded USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and while in command he completed two successful combat deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Mewbourne is currently serving as the chief of staff for Navy Cyber Forces and will assume command of Enterprise this afternoon.

"We will support and work with Capt. Mewbourne and the crew of Enterprise to keep them forward focused on their upcoming combat deployment. This is a difficult situation but the men and women of Enterprise are outstanding Sailors who have completed a very challenging and comprehensive predeployment work-up period in a thoroughly professional manner. They are well-trained, and I have full confidence in their readiness to execute all missions during their deployment," said Harvey.

The relief of Honors occurs as the investigation continues into the inappropriate videos that Honors made while serving as Enterprise's executive officer from 2006-2007. The investigation will continue to look at all aspects of the production of the videos, to include the actions of other senior officers who knew of the videos and the actions they took in response.

Honors is a decorated Top Gun pilot. He has largely been defended by those under his command as an officer who genuinely cared about those who served under him.

FMI: www.navy.mil/local/clf/