Sub skipper fired after buoy strike in Georgia

Repairs to the USS Georgia will cost $1 million.

David Larter, Navy Times
4 January 2016
A submarine navigation mishap and grounding in November has cost the sub's commanding officer his job.
The guided missile submarine Georgia struck a buoy while returning to its home port of Kings Bay, Georgia, on Nov. 25 and then ran aground. Capt. Dave Adams, CO of the Georgia's Blue crew, was relieved by Rear Adm. Randy Crites, the head of Submarine Group 10.
Crites removed Adams "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command based on the facts and circumstances revealed in a command investigation in the Nov. 25 incident in which Georgia was returning to port, struck a channel buoy and then grounded," SUBGRU 10 said in a release.
SUBGRU 10 said the damages are approximately $1 million to repair and that the investigation is pending final review.
Adams is the first CO fired in 2016.
In a statement to Navy Times, the 30-year Navy veteran took responsibility for the accident.
"The actions that hazarded GEORGIA upon a scheduled return to port in the dark on the morning of 25 Nov. were mine alone," Adams said in an email. "I ask that my lapses not be used to denigrate the terrific service of the Sailors and families of GEORGIA BLUE. After thirty years of serving in the world's finest Navy, my only regret is that I will miss sailing with them again to stand against our nation's enemies."
Adams enlisted in the Navy in 1985 and was commissioned in 1991, according to his official bio. He previously served on the ballistic missile submarine Tennessee and the attack submarines Santa Fe and Honolulu. He commanded the Joint Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost, Afghanistan, in 2007 and 2008. He went on to command Santa Fe from 2010 to 2012, earning the Battle "E."
He also served as the chief of naval operations' speechwriter and as an aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Adams was reassigned to SUBGRU 10.