Navy Investigating 7 Deaths On USS George Washington

The South Korean amphibious landing ship ROKS Dokdo and the aircraft carrier USS George Washington during readiness exercise on July 27, 2010. Adam K. Thomas/U.S. Navy via Getty Images

The U.S. Navy has opened an investigation into the deaths of seven sailors assigned to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, including three deaths that took place in a span of just a week this month.

“We can confirm seven total deaths of service members assigned to USS George Washington over the past 12 months—4 in 2021, and 3 in 2022. The circumstances surrounding these incidents vary and it is premature to make assumptions, as some incidents remain under investigation,” Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Robert Myers said in a statement, according to the United States Navy Institute (USNI) News.

Admiral Daryl Caudle, the fleet forces commander who ordered an investigation into the matter, has asked for scrutinizing the “command climate and culture issues” aboard the ship.

The admiral instructed his staff to work with the Naval Air Force Atlantic, other Navy stakeholders, and the ship to assess the efficacy of the military wing’s Total Sailor Fitness programs.

The three deaths this month took place between April 9 and 15. Retail Services Specialist 3rd Class Mikail Sharp died on April 9. This was followed by the death of Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Natasha Huffman on April 10. These were both determined to be suicides.

Master-at-Arms Seaman Recruit Xavier Hunter Mitchell-Sandor died from suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound on April 15.

Sharp had enlisted in June 2020, reporting for duty at the USS George Washington a few months later in October. This was his first assignment. Huffman enlisted in July 2018 and reported to the ship in May 2019.

Like Sharp, George Washington was Huffman’s first assignment as well. Sandor had enlisted in August and was eventually drafted for service at the ship.

In February, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had established the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee, tasking it with analyzing efforts of the Defense Department in dealing with suicide among military personnel.

The committee is set to start work on the issue in May, visiting military installations and bases this summer. By early next year, the committee is expected to submit a preliminary set of recommendations.

At a press briefing on April 21, Pentagon press Secretary John F. Kirby confirmed that the Navy is investigating the deaths. “Each death is tragic in its own right, regardless of how. And our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families, and frankly the shipmates, because they’re affected too, they’re part of a sailor’s family,” he said.

“As we look across the force we certainly want to look at things like command climate, and culture, and mission, and OPTEMPO, the tempo at which we’re pushing people. All those things are stressors in life, some of them could contribute to the problem of suicides.”