Navy fires destroyer commander after collision with supply ship in Caribbean

The Navy has sacked the commander of a guided-missile destroyer amid an investigation into its collision with a supply ship this month in the Caribbean, officials confirmed over the weekend.

Cmdr. James Koffi was relieved of command of the USS Truxtun following its Feb. 11 collision with the USNS Supply, a fleet oiler, during an underway refueling operation, officials said.

Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of the U.S. 4th Fleet, fired Cmdr. Koffi “due to a loss of confidence in Koffi’s ability to command,” officials said late Sunday in a statement.

Cmdr. Koffi assumed command of the USS Truxtun in January 2025.

“The Navy maintains the highest standards for leaders and holds them accountable when those standards are not met,” officials said in a statement.

The collision occurred during an “underway replenishment” — a maneuver in which ships sail side-by-side at close range to transfer fuel and supplies. The Navy said two sailors sustained minor injuries in the collision.

According to initial reports, the USNS Supply — a vessel crewed by civil service merchant mariners — was simultaneously refueling the cruiser USS Gettysburg on its right (starboard) side when the USS Truxtun approached on its left (port) side.

Underway replenishments are among the most dangerous maneuvers for a Navy warship. They require precise steering of both vessels while maintaining constant speed and distance, often only 100 to 200 feet apart. Both crews must manage the heavy fuel lines and wires stretched from one ship to the other while in motion.

The inquiry will determine whether mechanical failure or human error was responsible for the collision.

Cmdr. Koffi has been temporarily assigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic, officials said. Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, most recently assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, will serve as the USS Truxtun’s commanding officer.