The commander of the USS Truxtun, James Koffi, was relieved of his command on Sunday, February 22, 2026, following a collision with the oiler USNS Supply during a replenishment-at-sea operation on February 11, the Navy announced.
Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/4th Fleet, made the decision, citing a “loss of confidence in Koffi’s ability to command,” according to a statement released by the Navy. The standard phrase is routinely used when removing commanders and other leaders from their positions, officials said.
The collision occurred in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, specifically in the Caribbean Sea, while the Truxtun was conducting a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Supply (T-AOE-6). Two personnel reported minor injuries as a result of the incident and were listed in stable condition, according to Southern Command.
Cmdr. Taylor Auclair, previously assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, has been appointed as the new commanding officer of the USS Truxtun. Koffi has been temporarily reassigned to Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic.
The USS Truxtun is currently in port at Ponce, Puerto Rico, supporting U.S. Southern Command’s mission to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. The destroyer deployed to the region in February 2026 as part of the U.S. Military’s counternarcotics efforts near Venezuela.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Both vessels were able to continue sailing safely after the incident, officials stated.
