The admiral in charge of Naval Special Warfare has relieved the three senior leaders of San Diego-based of SEAL Team 7 over “leadership failures” while deployed in Iraq.
Rear Adm. Collin Green on Friday relieved the unit’s commanding officer, Cdr. Edward Mason; executive officer, Lt. Cdr. Luke Im; and top enlisted leader, Command Master Chief Hugh Spangler.
The Navy cited “a loss of confidence that resulted from leadership failures that caused a breakdown of good order and discipline within two subordinate units while deployed to combat.”
While the team’s senior leadership has been removed from their positions, they remain in the Navy pending an investigation.
The Navy provided no further information in the brief announcement, but news reports cited allegations of sexual assault and drinking while deployed to Iraq.
SEAL Team 7’s Alpha Platoon made national news after SEAL Chief Eddie Gallagher was accused of war crimes during a 2017 deployment to Iraq.
