*WASHINGTON: *The admiral leading US Navy operations in the Middle East wasfound dead on Saturday in Bahrain, the military branch said, adding that nofoul play was suspected in the case.
Vice admiral Scott Stearney, who began his post as commander of US NavalForces Central Command – including the US Fifth Fleet – and CombinedMaritime Forces in May, was found dead at his residence in the Gulf country.
“This is devastating news for the Stearney family, for the team at FifthFleet and for the entire Navy. Scott Stearney was a decorated navalwarrior,” Admiral John Richardson, chief of naval operations, said in astatement.
“At this time no foul play is suspected.”
He said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bahraini InteriorMinistry were cooperating on the investigation.
The Fifth Fleet’s deputy commander, Rear Admiral Paul Schlise, assumedcommand in the wake of Stearney’s death.
Read Top Stories
The Chicago native entered the US Navy in 1982 after graduating from theUniversity of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He laterobtained a master’s degree from the National Defense University.
He served in several strike fighter squadrons flying the FA-18 Hornet andserved in Kabul, Afghanistan, as chief of staff of Joint Task Force 435 andlater Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435.
In the US, Stearney served in various roles, including as instructor andreadiness officer at Navy Fighter Weapons School, according to his officialbiography. He also held various senior posts, including as director ofoperations at US Central Command. – APP / AFP
