The United States Navy has relieved the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason as the ship participates in training ahead of a potential deployment.
Capt. Chavius G. Lewis was removed by Rear Adm. Alexis T. Walker, commander of Carrier Strike Group 10, citing a “loss of confidence” in Lewis’ ability to command. The Navy did not provide additional details. Such language is commonly used across the military when senior leaders are dismissed without further explanation.
The Navy said the change will not affect USS Mason’s mission or schedule and emphasized that it holds leaders to high standards and expects accountability when those standards are not met.
While the Navy said operations will continue as planned, the removal of a ship’s commanding officer can have wider effects onboard. A commanding officer oversees training, discipline, morale, and day-to-day command of the crew, and a sudden leadership transition can create uncertainty or tension. The vague nature of a “loss of confidence” rationale can also lead to speculation among sailors, even as some may view it as a sign that accountability is being enforced.
Lewis took command of USS Mason on November 14, 2024, and has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Surface Group Southeast. Capt. Kevin Hoffman has assumed command of the destroyer.
USS Mason is currently operating in the U.S. 2nd Fleet area while taking part in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), a high-intensity readiness drill designed to test a ship and crew across demanding scenarios before deployment.
Commissioned after being built at Bath Iron Works in Maine and launched in June 2001, USS Mason is the third Navy ship to carry the name and is the 37th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer equipped with the Aegis combat system.
The ship’s name also reflects a notable legacy: the second USS Mason, built in 1943, was recognized for being manned by a predominantly Black enlisted crew.
USS Mason has drawn attention for past operations in and around the Red Sea. In 2016, while operating off Yemen, the destroyer was targeted by missiles launched from Houthi-controlled territory; the missiles fell short and did not strike the ship, and a Houthi spokesperson later denied that warships had been targeted. In 2024, the destroyer again came under fire in the region, intercepting anti-ship ballistic missiles and responding to a pirate attack on the commercial vessel M/V Central Park.
