Navy fires USS Wyoming submarine’s commanding officer

The Navy relieved the commanding officer of the USS Wyoming’s blue crew on Wednesday, according to a U.S. Navy official.

Submarine Group 10 commander Rear Adm. Bob Wirth relieved Cmdr. Robert Moreno due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the blue crew, which is one of a submarine’s two distinct crews. 

“Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct,” the Navy official said. “They are expected to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards.” 

Asked for comment, the Pentagon referred The Hill to the Navy. 

The USS Wyoming, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, was commissioned in July 1996 and is ported in Kings Bay, Ga., according to its website. The Navy release reportedly said the vessel is undergoing maintenance. 

Moreno took command of the submarine’s blue crew in May 2024 and has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in southeast Georgia, the official said. Moreno commissioned as an officer in December 2005 and has since served aboard the USS Pennsylvania, USS Dallas and USS North Carolina.

Capt. David Burke will assume temporary responsibility for the crew in place of Moreno. 

“The relief of the CO does not impact the ship’s mission or schedule,” the official said. 

Last month, the Navy relieved the commanding officer of the USS Santa Barbara’s blue crew, also citing a loss of confidence. The ship is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations in the Middle East.

—Updated Oct. 10 at 2:34 p.m. EDT. Filip Timotija contributed to this report.