Cmdr. Thomas Cashman, new commander of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Four, reads his orders to the outgoing commander, Cmdr. Greg Adair, during a ceremony Wednesday at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. (Elizabeth Williams / Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
The commander of Helicopter Support Squadron Four, based at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, was relieved of his command Wednesday, four months early because of personal reasons that Navy leaders said were distracting him from his job, a Navy spokesman said.
Cmdr. Greg Adair will be transferred to a staff job at the Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Va., Cmdr. John Kirby, a Naval Forces Europe spokesman, said Wednesday.
“He was not fired,” Kirby said. “He was allowed to leave early.”
Information on Adair’s personal situation came about as officials were investigating the Feb. 16 crash of an MH-53 Sea Dragon on the base’s runway while on a training exercise. Four sailors sustained minor injuries.
“The mishap did not dominate the decision to transfer him early, but as a result of the investigation, leaders became aware of a significant personal issue that distracted the commanding officer from the rigors of command,” Kirby said. He declined to elaborate on the personal issue, citing confidentiality and privacy laws.
The squadron referred all questions to Kirby.
The four aircraft of HC-4 were grounded as a result of the crash. As of Thursday, they had not resumed flying, said Cmdr. Cate Mueller, a spokeswoman for 6th Fleet. Cashman will make a recommendation to the chain of command as to when the helicopters should resume flying, though no timeline was available, Mueller said.
Adair, who took command of the squadron in May 2004, was replaced by Cmdr. Mike Cashman, who was commander of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Airborne Mine Countermeasures, in Norfolk, Va. The change of command ceremony took place Wednesday.
Command was not transferred to the squadron’s executive officer, Cmdr. Eric Shirey, because he reported to the squadron in September, and does not have enough time with the squadron to assume command, Kirby said.
