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A Navy officer who was second-in-command of a Hawaii-based P-3 Orion aircraft squadron has been reassigned because of an investigation into allegations of misconduct, Naval Air Forces in San Diego said Tuesday.
The nature of the allegations was undisclosed.
Cmdr. Jason Stapleton, executive officer of Patrol Squadron Four, will return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay from deployment to Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy.
The commander of Patrol Reconnaissance Wing Two, Capt. Christopher P. Ramsden, reassigned Stapleton as a result of the investigation, the Navy said.
The squadron’s previously identified prospective executive officer, Cmdr. Michael Brett Thompson, will take over as executive officer of the squadron.
Executive officers "have a great deal of responsibility for their unit, their assigned sailors and their mission," Naval Air Forces said in a release. "The allegations against Cmdr. Stapleton are being thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken."
Stapleton is a native of Spotsylvania, Va., and a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was assigned to patrol Squadron Four last May.
The squadron has nine aircraft and about 325 personnel. P-3 Orions are turboprop aircraft used primarily for long-range patrol and anti-submarine warfare.
