in World News Navy Fires Top Leadership of Virginia Beach-Based Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 4
The U.S. Navy abruptly fired the top leadership of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 4 (MSRON 4), a key security force based in Virginia Beach.
Cmdr. Brett Robblee and Command Master Chief Felix Phillips were both relieved of duty on Friday, a terse Navy news release revealed—citing only the classic bureaucratic catch-all: a “loss of confidence in their ability to perform leadership duties.”
No explanation was offered regarding what, exactly, caused the Navy to suddenly oust two top leaders, both of whom had been in their roles for less than a year.
Phillips had been with the unit since October 2023, and Robblee had assumed command just ten months ago in June 2024. Now both have been shuffled off to administrative roles at Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, according to Task and Purpose.
The replacements — Capt. Jason Labott and Command Master Chief Clayton Alek-Finkelman — were both pulled from Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2.
According to the press release:
The commanding officer and command master chief of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4 were relieved April 11 due to a loss of confidence in their ability to perform leadership duties.