Navy Relieves Destroyer Commander After Caribbean Collision
Cmdr. James Koffi was relieved of command of the USS Truxtun on Sunday, February 22, 2026, “due to a loss of confidence” in his ability to lead, the Navy announced. The decision follows a collision with the oiler USNS Supply earlier this month during an underway replenishment operation in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/4th Fleet, made the decision to remove Koffi, according to a Navy statement. The Navy routinely cites a “loss of confidence” when removing commanders from their positions.
Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, previously assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, has been named the interim commander of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Koffi has been reassigned to Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic.
“The Navy maintains the highest standards for leaders and holds them accountable when those standards are not met,” the Navy said in its statement.
The incident occurred on February 11, 2026, while the USS Truxtun was being replenished at sea by the USNS Supply. Video taken onboard the Supply, and verified by the BBC, reportedly showed the Truxtun veering to starboard during the replenishment, resulting in a collision with the oiler.
Two personnel reportedly sustained minor injuries in the collision, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The USS Truxtun is currently in port at Ponce, Puerto Rico, supporting the U.S. Southern Command mission to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. The ship had only been a few weeks into its deployment to the Caribbean, having departed Naval Station Norfolk near the beginning of February, and briefly returning to port for repairs following the collision.
This incident marks one of two mishaps to affect Joint Task Force Southern Spear this month. Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka Oforah, a Marine, fell overboard from the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship and was declared dead after a three-day search.
Koffi assumed command of the destroyer in January 2025.