Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Commander, Naval Activities Spain is Seventh Navy CO fired in 2011

The dual-hatted commander of Naval Station Rota/Naval Activities Spain was relieved "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command."

Captain William Mosk had been in command since June 2008 and was to be relieved in June 2011 by Captain Scott Kraverath.. Mosk was fired on 18 April amid an ongoing Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigation on Naval Station Rota. Mosk was not personally under investigation nor is he facing any criminal charges. His biography and photo were removed from the NS Rota/NA Spain website.

He is the seventh commanding officer fired this year, and the fifth aviator.  Mosk was relieved by Rear Adm. Tony Gaiani, head of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia.  Commander Ron Dennis, Captain Mosk's executive officer, has taken command of Naval Station Rota until Mosk’s scheduled relief, Captain Scott Kraverath, arrives.


Captain William F. Mosk is a native of Southern California and graduated from UCLA with a degree in Economics. Entering the Navy through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program, he was commissioned an Ensign in May 1985.

Designated as a Naval Flight Officer in March 1986, his initial fleet assignment was to Patrol Squadron SIX at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. In 1990 Captain Mosk was selected for the Pilot Transition Program and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1991. Since then he has served in several Patrol Squadrons including Patrol Squadron FORTY-NINE and Patrol Squadron FIVE at NAS Jacksonville, FL and Patrol Squadron TEN at NAS Brunswick, Maine. He has deployed worldwide to Misawa, Japan; Adak, Alaska; Cubi Point, Philippines; Diego Garcia; Keflavik, Iceland; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; and Sigonella, Italy. While in the Mediterranean in 1999, Commander Mosk flew 44 combat missions in support of Operation Allied Forces.

Mosk has also served at sea onboard PCU John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in Norfolk, Va., from 1995 to 1996 as Operations Administrative Officer and Officer of the Deck (underway). In 2004 he reported to USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) as Navigator during a combat cruise in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. He also participated in numerous carrier qualification periods and Fleet Week 2005 in New York City.

Mosk reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas in November 2001 as Executive Officer of Training Squadron THIRTY-FIVE (VT-35) and assumed command in February 2003, leading the Stingrays to unparalleled achievements.

Captain Mosk’s staff jobs include serving with United States Joint Forces Command in 1999 to 2001 where he served as C4I Systems Modernization Branch Chief responsible for the Theater Air Missile Defense Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration. In 2006, he reported to U.S. Fleet Forces Command serving as the Current Operations Officer responsible for Maritime Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities.

In June 2008, Captain Mosk assumed command of Naval Activities Spain and Naval Station Rota. He has logged over 4,500 flight hours in the P-3 and C-12. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals as well as numerous other unit and service decorations.

1 comment:

Navy Times said...

Commanding officers fired in 2011

• Capt. Owen Honors, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Enterprise, was fired Jan. 4 for what the Navy called a “profound lack of good judgment and professionalism” in making and showing to his crew raunchy comic videos as executive officer of the ship from 2005 through 2007.

• Capt. Rex Guinn, commanding officer of the Navy Region Japan legal service office, was fired Feb. 17 by Rear Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, commander of Navy Legal Service Command and the deputy judge advocate general, for “loss of confidence in his ability to command.”

• Cmdr. Nathan Borchers of the Norfolk, Va.-based destroyer Stout was fired March 1 for a “pervasive pattern of unprofessional behavior” among the ship's crew.

• Rear Adm. Ron Horton was fired as commander of Logistics Group, Western Pacific, March 3 for failing to put a stop to the controversial “XO Movie Night” videos aired while he commanded the carrier Enterprise.

• Cmdr. Kevin Harms was fired March 9 as commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 137 aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln by strike group commander Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command” for allegedly violating military ethics rules.

• Cmdr. Timothy Murphy was fired April 11 as commander of Electronic Attack Squadron 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., due to “loss of confidence in his ability to command” after he was stopped by authorities on suspicion of driving drunk.

• Capt. William Mosk was fired April 18 as commander of Naval Station Rota and commander of Naval Activities Spain due to a “loss of confidence" in his ability to command and handle issues related to an ongoing criminal investigation at the base, according to an official statement.