The commanding officer of the naval squadron that includes the USS Winston Churchill, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, relieved the executive officer of the ship of his duties, citing the officer’s unwillingness to follow a lawful order: to get a coronavirus vaccine.
The Associated Press reports that Cmdr. Lucian Kins was informed by Navy Capt. Ken Anderson, commander of Naval Surface Squadron 14, that he was being reassigned off ship and given a shore assignment with the Squadron because Anderson lost confidence in Kins’ ability to perform his duties. Citing such a cause for a reassignment will essentially end Kins’ career in the Navy. Lt. Cmdr. Han Yi, the ship’s plans and tactics officer, will take over for Kins until another officer is assigned to the ship.
Determining the threat posed by the coronavirus virus is a readiness issue for the military, the Pentagon mandated all uniformed personnel be fully vaccinated by the end of this year. That means all personnel had to have their first vaccination dose by late November for the vaccine to take full effect by the start of the new year. If they have not received their dose, they had to apply for an exemption by the end of November. Kins did neither.