NUWC Newport Commander Fired for Hostile Work Environment

NEWPORT, RI—The commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Division has been fired after a "loss of confidence in his ability to command."

Capt. Howard Goldman, who took command of the NUWC Division Newport in November of 2014, reportedly cultivated a hostile work environment. He was relieved of duty "based on findings of an investigation into a hostile work environment and poor command climate," the NUWC said in a news release.

Goldman told the Navy Times that he accepts responsibility for not meeting leadership standards.

"Command in the Navy is all about responsibility and accountability," he told the Times.

Goldman is not expected to face any additional disciplinary action.

A naval submariner originally from Baltimore, Goldman is a 1987 graduate of Rice University.

He also he served for one year as a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School for Government and Public Policy. He received his commission from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Unit at Rice.

Previously, Goldman commanded the USS Toledo, a nuclear attack submarine, and served assignments on the Submarine Tactical Development Staff of the Royal Navy, the staff of Commander Task Force 69 in Naples, Italy, and command of Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific Pearl Harbor (NSTCP) with additional duties as commanding officer Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) Detachment Guam.

Goldman has been reassigned to Naval Station Newport and Capt. Geoffrey G. DeBeauclair, chief of staff for Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, has temporarily assumed command of NUWC Newport Division "until a permanent relief is assigned."

Photos: Navy Photos