Bangor-based submarine USS Ohio gold crew CO removed from command due to loss of confidence

Peiyu Lin, Kitsap Sun
Updated ·1 min read
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Capt. Kurt Balagna, commanding officer of the Gold crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), addresses the wardroom during an operations brief on Jan. 21, 2021. Balagna was removed from command on March 8.
Capt. Kurt Balagna, commanding officer of the Gold crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), addresses the wardroom during an operations brief on Jan. 21, 2021. Balagna was removed from command on March 8.

Bangor-based submarine USS Ohio's commanding officer (gold crew), Capt. Kurt D. Balagna, was removed from command on March 8, the Navy said.

According to a statement issued by the Navy on Wednesday, the commander of Submarine Group 9, Rear Adm. Nicholas R. Tilbrook, relieved Balagna due to "a loss of confidence in his ability to command."

"Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct. 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," the Navy said in the statement.

The Navy didn't explain details of why Balagna was removed from his duties.

The prospective commanding officer Capt. Andrew Cain has assumed duties as commanding officer of the Ohio-class guided-missile sub, according to the statement.

Capt. Kurt D. Balagna, commanding officer of the gold crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.
Capt. Kurt D. Balagna, commanding officer of the gold crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

Balagna, a Farmington, Illinois native, enlisted in the Navy in 1992 as a Nuclear Electronics Technician. He earned a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, a Master of National Security and Strategic Studies degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Illinois.

His previous leadership duties include being the Executive Officer on USS Virginia (SSN 774), the Virginia Class action officer and Executive Officer of the Tactical Analysis Group at Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE, Commanding Officer of USS Annapolis (SSN 760), and deputy division chief for Strategy and Campaign Planning within the J5 Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Strategic Command. He also served as the director of the Submarine Officer Advanced Course and Basic Course at Naval Submarine School.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: USS Ohio submarine Capt. Kurt D. Balagna removed from command