On Wednesday, March 20th, the Navy Special Warfare Command announced the removal of Capt. Richard A. Zaszewski from his position as commodore of Navy Special Warfare Group Eight (NSWG-8), citing a “loss of confidence in his leadership capabilities.” This decision, communicated through a press release, was made by Rear Adm. Keith Davids, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, and was attributed to an issue related to behavior, as detailed to the press by a Navy representative.
In a recently released statement, Lt. Cmdr. Chelsea Irish, a Navy Special Warfare Command spokesperson, explained,
“The determination to relieve Capt. Zaszewski’s duties were based on a thoughtful assessment of the circumstances and the necessity to maintain the Navy’s leadership standards at their highest.”
Irish declined to provide further specifics regarding the dismissal. Attempts to contact Zaszewski for his comments were unsuccessful.
Zaszewski, a distinguished Navy SEAL, has served nearly two decades with Special Warfare Units based on the East Coast, as revealed by his military records. The specific teams to which SEALs are assigned for operational security reasons are not disclosed in their public service records.
His accolades include the prestigious Silver Star, the third-highest military combat decoration, three Bronze Stars with a “V” for valor, a Combat Action Ribbon, and campaign medals for his service in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve, among other honors.
New Commodore Named
Following Zaszewski’s removal, the role of commodore for NSWG-8 was assumed by Deputy Commodore Capt. Stig Sanness, as reported by Irish.
Established in 2021 from the merger of NSWGs Three and Ten, Naval Special Warfare Group Eight specializes in undersea warfare, including the operation of both crewed and uncrewed submersibles and the execution of cyber and electronic warfare operations.
Loss of Confidence
On Wednesday, March 20th, the Navy Special Warfare Command announced the removal of Capt. Richard A. Zaszewski from his position as commodore of Navy Special Warfare Group Eight (NSWG-8), citing a “loss of confidence in his leadership capabilities.” This decision, communicated through a press release, was made by Rear Adm. Keith Davids, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, and was attributed to an issue related to behavior, as detailed to the press by a Navy representative.
In a recently released statement, Lt. Cmdr. Chelsea Irish, a Navy Special Warfare Command spokesperson, explained,
“The determination to relieve Capt. Zaszewski’s duties were based on a thoughtful assessment of the circumstances and the necessity to maintain the Navy’s leadership standards at their highest.”
Irish declined to provide further specifics regarding the dismissal. Attempts to contact Zaszewski for his comments were unsuccessful.
Zaszewski, a distinguished Navy SEAL, has served nearly two decades with Special Warfare Units based on the East Coast, as revealed by his military records. The specific teams to which SEALs are assigned for operational security reasons are not disclosed in their public service records.
His accolades include the prestigious Silver Star, the third-highest military combat decoration, three Bronze Stars with a “V” for valor, a Combat Action Ribbon, and campaign medals for his service in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve, among other honors.
New Commodore Named
Following Zaszewski’s removal, the role of commodore for NSWG-8 was assumed by Deputy Commodore Capt. Stig Sanness, as reported by Irish.
Established in 2021 from the merger of NSWGs Three and Ten, Naval Special Warfare Group Eight specializes in undersea warfare, including the operation of both crewed and uncrewed submersibles and the execution of cyber and electronic warfare operations.
The unit, headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia, emphasizes adapting to new threats to enhance the strategic capabilities and effectiveness of joint forces in various conflict scenarios, as stated by Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III during the unit’s inauguration.
The Navy has assured that this leadership transition will not affect the operational readiness of NSWG-8.
Ongoing Issues
This incident marks at least the fifth high-ranking Navy officer dismissal in 2024, following a similar pattern of firings due to a “loss of confidence.”
Previous dismissals this year include the commanding officers of a guided-missile submarine, the USS Howard, based in Japan, and the blue crew of the USS Georgia submarine, all with limited explanations beyond the standard rationale.
When queried about whether these dismissals indicate a shift in policy or standards, the Navy responded that it is merely enforcing existing accountability standards, emphasizing that officers are held to the utmost expectations of responsibility, reliability, and leadership.
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