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|image= [[File:US Captain Holly Graf.jpg|180px]]
|image= [[File:US Captain Holly Graf.jpg|180px]]
|caption= Captain Holly Ann Graf, United States Navy
|caption= Captain Holly Ann Graf, United States Navy
|nickname= "The Sea H.A.G." (see initials)<ref>http://www.militarycorruption.com/hollygraf5.htm</ref><ref>http://www.susankatzkeating.com/2010/01/captain-holly-graf-plows-down-whale.html</ref>
|nickname= "The Sea H.A.G." (see photo above)<ref>http://www.militarycorruption.com/hollygraf5.htm</ref><ref>http://www.susankatzkeating.com/2010/01/captain-holly-graf-plows-down-whale.html</ref>
|allegiance= {{flag|United States of America}}
|allegiance= {{flag|United States of America}}
|branch= {{nowrap|[[Image:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|30px|United States Navy Seal]]}} [[United States Navy]]
|branch= {{nowrap|[[Image:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|30px|United States Navy Seal]]}} [[United States Navy]]

Revision as of 04:33, 25 April 2010

Holly Ann Graf
Captain Holly Ann Graf, United States Navy
Nickname(s)"The Sea H.A.G." (see photo above)[1][2]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy Seal United States Navy
Years of service1985-
Rank Captain
CommandsUSS Cowpens (CG-63)
Battles/warsOperation Iraqi Freedom
AwardsBronze Star
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with one bronze service star).

Holly Ann Graf is an officer of the United States Navy, holding the rank of Captain. Until January 2010 she was commanding officer of the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens, a major vessel of the fleet. She holds the Bronze Star, among others, and received significant media coverage even before being relieved of command of her ship in controversial circumstances.[3][4]

Early life

Graf grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, the younger sister of Rear Admiral (LH) Robin L. Graf. She came from a a family with a history of naval service, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1985. She holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a further Master's degree in civil engineering from Villanova University.[5]

Captain Graf's previous billets include being Auxiliaries Officer and First Division Officer on board the USS Puget Sound (AD-38). Graf was also the Weapons Officer on board the USS Ainsworth (FF-1090). Graf was the executive officer on the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) and the commanding officer of the USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) from 20 April 2002 to 6 February 2004. It was on this deployment that she participated in the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[6] Graf was then the assistant operations officer in the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) carrier strike group. From 20 March 2008 to 13 January 2010, serving at the rank of Captain, Graf was the commanding officer of the USS Cowpens, based in Yokosuka, Japan.[7][8][9]

Cowpens relief of command

On 13 January 2010, weeks before she was due to be transferred to a new assignment, Graf was relieved of command of USS Cowpens by Rear Admiral Kevin Donegan, Carrier Strike Group Five Commander following the imposition of nonjudicial punishment. The punishment followed an investigation which verified allegations of cruelty and maltreatment toward her crew, and conduct unbecoming an officer: violations by Graf of articles 93 and 133 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice during her tenure as captain of her ship. The investigation was initiated after multiple allegations and complaints of physical and verbal abuse were made to Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Navy Inspector General by members of the crew. Graf was subsequently replaced as the ship's commanding officer by Captain Robert Marin.[10][7][11]

A subsequent Time article revealed that Graf had a history of abusive treatment of subordinates in earlier assignments and that Navy leaders had not acted on previous complaints about her behavior.[6]

Time reported that “She ‘creates an environment of fear and hostility [and] frequently humiliates and belittles watch standers by screaming at them with profanities in front of the Combat Information Center and bridge-watch teams,’ a crew member told the IG. According to 29 of the 36 crew members who were questioned for the Navy's report, Graf repeatedly dropped F bombs on them.”

Time, quoting the Inspector General's report, states that Graf is reported to have said

  • "Take your goddam attitude and shove it up your fucking ass and leave it there,"
  • "This is one of the reasons I hate you," she allegedly told one who was seeking her help.
  • Her response to an officer seeking discussion after a previous episode was : "Get the fuck out of my stateroom."
  • In response to a woman seeking her mentorship, she is reported to have said "Don't come to me with your problems" "You're a fucking department head.'
  • "You two are fucking unbelievable. I would fire you if I could, but I can't."
  • She was reported to have thrown ceramic coffee cups at people
  • A junior officer reported her as being "sadistically cruel"

"Graf told the IG she had 'no recollection' of making such comments", reports Time. She told the IG that ""I also did it on other occasions to intentionally pressurize the situation." [6]

Later career

After losing her command, Graf was reassigned to a weapons laboratory near Washington, D.C. Time magazine considered that her career in the United States Navy was effectively finished.

Military awards

Captain Graf's awards include a Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal with one bronze service star.

  
1st Row Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal

References

  1. ^ http://www.militarycorruption.com/hollygraf5.htm
  2. ^ http://www.susankatzkeating.com/2010/01/captain-holly-graf-plows-down-whale.html
  3. ^ http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/01081.htm
  4. ^ http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/01081.htm
  5. ^ United States Navy (2010). "Rear Admiral Robin L. Graf Deputy Commander, Navy Recruiting Command". USA.gov. United States Navy. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ a b c Thompson, Mark (March 03, 2010). "The Rise and Fall of a Female Captain Bligh". Time. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ a b Ewing, Philip (January 16, 2010). "Cruiser CO relieved for 'cruelty'". Navy Times. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ cowpensvets.org (2010). "CAPT Holly Graf - United States Navy - COWPENS' Tenth Commanding Officer". cowpensvets.org. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/01081.htm
  10. ^ Carter, David, J. (January 16, 2010). "Admiral relieves Cowpens captain". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: "CIRCLE THE WAGONS TIME"". militarycorruption.com. 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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