US Navy removes USS Michael Murphy commander after Iran mission
Caitlin Cunningham was relieved on September 27 for a loss of confidence, with the US Navy offering no public explanation.
The US Navy has removed Caitlin Cunningham as commander of the destroyer USS Michael Murphy as the ship completed a long deployment that included operations in the Middle East tied to Iran. A Navy spokesman confirmed Cunningham was relieved on September 27 for a “loss of confidence” in her leadership, but did not detail the cause. Cunningham had led USS Michael Murphy since October 24, 2025. The ship departed on December 1, 2025, with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, then remained in the Middle East after the carrier left the region in August. USS Michael Murphy left the area in mid-October and is expected back in Pearl Harbor this week after a 346-day deployment.