(WASHINGTON) — The commander of a guided-missile destroyer that collided with an oiler in the Caribbean Sea earlier this month has been removed from command, USNI News reported.
Cmdr. James Koffi was removed from command of USS Truxtun (DDG-103) by U.S. 4th Fleet commander Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello following a Feb. 11 collision with U.S. Navy fleet oiler USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) during an underway refueling.
“Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, who was most recently assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, will serve as Truxtun’s commanding officer,” U.S. 4th Fleet said in a prepared statement. “Koffi, who assumed command of Truxtun on Jan. 9, 2025, has been temporarily reassigned to commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic.”
According to video of the collision shot from Supply, Truxtun struck the oiler amidships after turning to starboard during the underway refueling. Two sailors suffered minor injuries. Both ships returned to port at Ponce, Puerto Rico, the Navy said.
Koffi took command of Truxtun in January 2025 and led the ship during an independent deployment to the Middle East and Europe that ended in October. After three months in Norfolk, the ship was again deployed to U.S. Southern Command as part of the buildup of naval forces in U.S. 4th Fleet.
The cause of the Feb. 11 incident is still under investigation.
