The U.S. Navy has dismissed both the commanding officer and the executive officer of the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka, Japan, over the weekend. Captain Zaldy Valenzuela, the commanding officer, and Commander Art Palalay, his deputy, were removed from their positions on Sunday due to a “loss of confidence in their ability to command,” as stated by the Navy.
Captain Dan Lannamann, previously the commanding officer of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia, has taken charge of the facility, while Commander Timothy Emge, the operations officer at the center, is serving as the acting executive officer until a permanent replacement is found.
In a statement, the Navy emphasized, “The Navy holds commanding officers and others in authority to the highest standards. Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and commands.”
The Navy typically does not elaborate on the reasons for the dismissal of commanding officers beyond the “loss of confidence” label, and no further information has been provided regarding the circumstances surrounding Valenzuela and Palalay’s removal.
Captain Valenzuela’s past roles include ship superintendent and carrier-type desk officer at SRF-JRMC, as well as serving as the electrical division officer aboard the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, and the combat and communications officer on the amphibious command ship Blue Ridge.
Commander Palalay, who enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and received his commission in 2006, was the readiness officer at Commander Naval Surface Forces Pacific before becoming the executive officer of SRF-JRMC earlier this year.
The maintenance center, which features six dry docks, is responsible for conducting intermediate and depot-level maintenance and repairs for Navy ships operating within the 7th Fleet.