The commanding officer of the usS. Gettysburg, the ship which mistakenly fired on a U.S. Navy jet within the Red Sea this weekend, is a local of Adak.
Two Navy pilots managed to eject safely after their F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was mistakenly shot down on Sunday in what officers referred to as “an obvious case of pleasant fireplace.” One of the pilots has minor accidents, in response to the U.S. Central Command.
The U.S. Navy has been within the area for over a yr because it protects business ships from Iranian-Yemen Houthi rebels, which have been attacking ships repeatedly.
Prior to the pleasant fireplace incident, Centcom stated that U.S. forces had been conducting strikes in opposition to Houthi missile storage services, and had been taking pictures down a number of unmanned aerial automobiles and an anti-ship cruise missile. The ship is on a scheduled deployment within the U.S. sixth Fleet space of operations supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend U.S., allied, and associate pursuits; each U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy belongings, together with F/A-18s, are a part of the operation.
Video from Centcom right here.
Captain Justin Hodges, initially from Adak, instructions the Gettysburg. He has a bachelor of science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a masters of engineering administration from Old Dominion University and a grasp of arts in nationwide safety from the U.S. Naval War College. Hodges took over command of the guided-missile cruiser in February of 2023.
The U.S.S. Gettysburg, 567 ft lengthy, is a part of the usS. Harry S, Truman Carrier Strike Group. The jet that was shot down was flying off the usS. Harry S Truman.
According to Hodges’ official bio, he served as the primary lieutenant in U.S.S. Stethem (DDG 63), was a reactor mechanical division Officer in U.S.S. Nimitz Operations Office in U.S.S. McFaul, and reactor coaching assistant in U.S.S Harry S. Truman. He accomplished deployments as govt officer and commanding officer in U.S.S. Gravely and served as reactor officer in U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Ashore, Hodges was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence as floor anti-submarine warfare analyst; Joint Forces Command as an observer/coach; commander, Naval Air Force, Atlantic (CNAL) because the drive reactor coaching assistant; and took part within the Career Intermission Program.
He has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorius Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and different private, unit, and marketing campaign awards.
Centcom stated that an investigation into the pleasant fireplace incident would get underneath approach.
