U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Found Dead in Bahrain

USNI News ^ | December 1, 2018 4:28 PM | Sam LaGrone

[robowombat]

U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Found Dead in Bahrain

This post has been updated with additional details on the investigation.

Vice Adm. Scott A. Stearney, commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, was found dead in his quarters in Bahrain on Saturday, according to a statement from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.

While an investigation is ongoing, the death of Stearney will almost certainly be ruled a suicide, a U.S. defense official told USNI News. An official determination on the cause of death is expected by mid-week, USNI News has learned.

A Navy spokesperson didn’t have additional information on the investigation when contacted by USNI News on Saturday.

“The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bahraini Ministry of Interior are cooperating on the investigation, but at this time no foul play is suspected,” read a statement from Richardson.

“Scott Stearney was a decorated naval warrior. He was a devoted husband and father, and he was a good friend to all of us,” Richardson said. “The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bahraini Ministry of Interior are cooperating on the investigation, but at this time no foul play is suspected. Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, the deputy commander of 5th Fleet, has assumed command and is maintaining continuity in our responsibilities and posture in the U.S. 5th Fleet.”

Stearney previously served as director of operations at U.S. Central Command in MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. He was a 1982 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Stearney was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1984, and flew more than 4,500 hours, accumulating more than 1,000 carrier-arrested landings while flying F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters.

His served at sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), USS George Washington (CVN-73) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Ashore, Stearney served as tactics instructor and readiness officer at Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).

Stearney had taken command of 5th Fleet in May.

The following is the Dec. 1, 2018 statement from Chief of Naval Operations.

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson released the following statement Dec. 1, 2018, on the death of Vice Adm. Scott A. Stearney who served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet:

Team, it’s my sad duty to inform you that today the Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer and I were told that Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, our commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet, was found deceased in his residence in Bahrain today. This is devastating news for the Stearney family, for the team at 5th Fleet, and for the entire U.S. Navy.

Scott Stearney was a decorated naval warrior. He was a devoted husband and father, and he was a good friend to all of us. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bahraini Ministry of Interior are cooperating on the investigation, but at this time no foul play is suspected. Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, the deputy commander of 5th Fleet, has assumed command and is maintaining continuity in our responsibilities and posture in the U.S. 5th Fleet.

I ask that you keep the Stearney family in your prayers and respect their privacy as they navigate through these very difficult times. We will keep you informed as we learn more. Thank you very much.

[robowombat]

This is not new but I don't recall any posts on it. Yje article is pretty spatse on info.

[Enterprise]

12-1-18

UPDATED: U.S. 5th Fleet Commander Found Dead in Bahrain

12-1-18

Admiral commanding US Navy forces in the Middle East, 58, 'commits suicide' at his home in Bahrain

[Pontiac]

MANAMA, Bahrain (Oct. 24, 2018) Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, speaks on the 1MC shipboard intercom to welcome the crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) to Manama, Bahrain, and share words of appreciation for their hard work on the ship's current deployment. Jason Dunham is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/Released)

[higgmeister]

I found two in a search quicker than I could snap my fingers:

Top Navy admiral was found dead in 'apparent suicide'
12/1/2018, 8:49:49 PM · by jazusamo · 59 replies
The Hill ^ | December 1, 2018 | Aris Folley
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3709925/posts

Top US naval commander in Middle East found dead
12/1/2018, 6:09:26 PM · by BenLurkin · 89 replies
CNN ^ | Updated 4:59 PM ET, Sat December 1, 2018 | Ryan Browne, CNN
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3709897/posts

[Notthereyet]

Did they ever find out the cause of his electing to take his own life?

I don’t think we ever heard of any follow-up....

[BobL]

Let me guess: He used the wrong pronoun for one of Obama’s ‘children’ and was about to get a Dishonorable.

[knarf]

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/3730154/posts

[HighSierra5]

What’s with these deaths? Did they know Hitlery?

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Absolutely no reason at this time to suspect anything but depression or internal demons as the cause of death. As a retired veteran, I’m saddened that yet another military suicide is in the news.

[Pete Dovgan]

Q posted a photo of a missle in Washington state. Made it seem it wasn’t a wayward launch, but targeted Airforce one on its way to North Korea for the talks last November. Since that time I have seen multiple commanders relieved, and very high leadership expire. Q may or may not be nothing, but if ‘they’ are real I am not surprised that people disappear or commit suicide, they are nothing but a liability to the ‘resistance’ once discovered.

I don’t favor this kind of action for these individuals. Military trail and public hanging is more effective, so more likely than not its the bad guys removing their liabilities. If the conspiracy and Q are real. I don’t have enough information to speak to that.

[bray]

Dead men don’t talk.

[RicocheT]

A very sad end for both the Admiral and for his family. He served our country and Navy well but found himself in a place so dark he took his life. If any of us reading this news finds him or herself having such dark thoughts, please step back and find solace in Jesus or similar positive thoughts. Life is too precious to give up, help is near.

[mad_as_he$$]

Yes, he served a Operations officer for CentCom. He wouldn’t be the first guy to not cope well with activities of CentCom.