Capt. Dave Snowden
The captain of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is out, and his bag is packed.
After a late-night crunch with a merchant ship near the Suez Canal, Capt. Dave Snowden was shown the door Thursday. The Navy sent Congress a courtesy note confirming that Snowden was yanked due to a “loss of confidence” in his ability to command. That’s bureaucratic speak for you screwed up, and we can’t have that.
The collision happened Feb. 12 when the Truman traded paint with the MV Besiktas-M, a merchant vessel off the coast of Egypt. The carrier took a hit to the starboard quarter, tearing through the hull above the waterline and mangling a sponson near the ship’s starboard elevator. The damage assessment reads like a bad car insurance claim: two busted storage rooms, a trashed maintenance space, damage to the fantail, and some exterior scarring. But at least the No. 3 aircraft elevator is still in working order. No injuries were reported—small mercies.
With the ship now parked in Souda Bay, Greece, for inspection and repairs, Snowden’s career is effectively over. A Naval Academy grad and a career fighter pilot, Snowden climbed the ranks, serving as Truman’s XO before taking the big chair. He also commanded the amphibious warship USS San Antonio (LPD-17). But none of that mattered when the carrier kissed a merchant vessel. The Navy had seen enough.
Stepping into the breach is Capt. Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, skipper of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). Hill is fresh from a long stretch in the Red Sea supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian. Now he’s got a new mission: keeping Truman on course while Snowden packs up and heads for whatever fate awaits a former carrier CO with a fresh blemish on his record.
As for the Truman, the damage report is still coming in, but the carrier’s next move will likely be dictated by repair timelines and whether the Navy thinks this was just a one-off blunder—or a systemic failure. Either way, one thing is certain: on the day after the collision, Snowden had his bag packed.