The commanding officer and senior enlisted sailor on the Pearl Harbor-based submarine USS Columbia were relieved of duties today for "shortfalls in professional performance" leading to a loss of confidence in their ability to serve in positions of command authority, the Navy said.

Cmdr. Dennis J. Klein and chief of the boat Master Chief Electronics Technician (Submarines) Don W. Williams were relieved of duties by the commander of Submarine Squadron 7 at Pearl Harbor, according to officials.

"The U.S. Navy holds those in positions of command to very high standards and accountable when those standards are not met. When those in leadership positions fail to meet these high standards and superiors lose confidence in their ability to lead, they are removed from positions of command authority," said Cmdr. Christy Hagen, public affairs officer for the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force.

Klein, who in August of 2010 took command of Columbia, a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine, has been administratively reassigned to the Pacific command’s staff.

Capt. Dennis Boyer, deputy commander of Submarine Squadron 7, has assumed command of Columbia until a permanent replacement is named, the Navy said. Boyer previously commanded the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Miami.

Williams, who reported as chief of the boat of Columbia in September 2009, has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Naval Submarine Support Command at Pearl Harbor.

Command Master Chief (Submarines) Manuel Meneses, the Submarine Squadron 7 command master chief, has assumed responsibilities as chief of the boat until a replacement is named, the Navy said. Meneses previously served as chief of the boat aboard the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Philadelphia.