Navy Officer Fired, His Integrity in Question After Investigation

Cmdr. Jesus Cordero, commanding officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily, Italy, was relieved of command Sept. 27. (Navy photo)

Military.com | By Gina Harkins

Published October 04, 2018

An Italy-based Navy commander was fired last week after his leadership and integrity were called into question following an inspector general complaint.

Cmdr. Jesus Cordero, commanding officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily, was removed from his post Sept. 27, according to Navy officials. Cordero was relieved by Vice Adm. Timothy "T.J." White, head of Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet.

White had directed an investigation into allegations about Cordero after someone filed the inspector general complaint, said Lt. Cmdr. Ben Tisdale, a spokesman for Fleet Cyber Command and 10th Fleet. The commander was relieved based on the results, "which brought into question Cordero's integrity and leadership," he added.

Cordero was leading a command that provides mission-critical communications support to NATO and coalition forces operating in Europe and Africa. That includes everything from providing telecommunications and tactical-messaging support to videoconferencing services and network connections for deployed forces.

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Cmdr. Kelvin McGhee has since taken command of NCTS Sicily. The decision regarding where Cordero will be assigned next is pending, Tisdale said.

Cordero is a prior-enlisted sailor who was born in Puerto Rico and enlisted in the Navy in 1988. He earned his commission in 1997, according to personnel records, and has served as an information-professional officer.

He has been assigned to the amphibious assault ship Bataan, frigate Halyburton and mine-countermeasure ship Devastator. Prior to his assignment in Italy, Cordero served with Naval Information Forces in Virginia and U.S. 7th Fleet in Japan.

Cordero has a Kosovo Campaign Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and seven Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.

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Related Topics: Military Headlines Relieved of Command Topics US Navy Topics

Gina Harkins

Gina Harkins previously covered the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard for Military.com. She has covered troops and their families for nearly a decade, reporting from the U.S., Central and South America, and at sea. Before joining Military.com, Gina was a longtime reporter and managing editor for the independent Marine Corps Times. Her story on two recruits trapped at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina was runner up for the 2013 Military Reporters and Editors award for domestic military coverage. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and studied political science and international relations in her undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University. Read Full Bio

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