Navy Fires Third Commanding Officer in November, Ousting Cmdr. Charles Diehl

The U.S. Navy relieved Cmdr. Charles Diehl of his duties as the commanding officer of Airborne Command & Control Squadron 115 on Friday, marking the third such removal of a commanding officer in November. The Navy cited a “loss of confidence in his ability to command” as the reason for Diehl’s dismissal.

Diehl, who had served as the squadron’s leader since May, will be temporarily reassigned to the Airborne Command & Control Logistics Wing at Pt. Mugu, California. In the interim, Cmdr. Randall Fields, former commanding officer of Airborne Command & Control Squadron 116, will step in to lead Squadron 115.

This is the third leadership change in recent weeks. Earlier in November, the Navy removed Capt. Lester Brown Jr., from his post at the Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego, as well as Cmdr. Cayanne McFarlane, who was ousted from her role at the Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego.

Diehl, a seasoned naval flight officer with experience in the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft, has an extensive military background, including participation in operations such as Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Tomodachi. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun).

While the Navy rarely elaborates on the reasons behind the dismissal of commanding officers, they reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining high standards and holding leaders accountable when those standards are not met.