Rear Adm. David Baucom Punished For Unruly Conduct: U.S. Navy’s Most Senior Officer Removed For Doing What?

Rear Adm. David Baucom was sacked from his prestigious post and returned to a desk job at the Pentagon for his unruly conduct at a trade conference. He is the top U.S. Navy officer to be removed from their post this year.

One of the Navy’s top supply officers, Rear Adm. David Baucom was fired and reprimanded for his disorderly conduct. Reports indicate Baucom was disciplined for getting drunk and wandering around naked in a Florida hotel while attending a conference with defense contractors, reported Washington Times.

Rear Adm. David Baucom was removed from his job as the director of Strategy, Policy, Capabilities, and Logistics at U.S. Transportation Command in October after an investigation into his misbehavior in April while attending the National Defense Transportation Association’s Transportation Advisory Board in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., reported USA Today. Investigations confirmed Baucom had been so drunk that he bumped his head on a bar stool, lost bladder control, and eventually required an escort back to his room, reported Navy Times.

The investigative report about the incident submitted by the Naval inspector general also indicated, a short while later, Adm. Baucom emerged from his room naked. Realizing his revealing condition, Baucom attempted to go back inside, but he was unable to. Owing to his lack of clothes, he did not have the keycard to gain access to the room. Unfortunately, all the doors to the rooms get locked automatically and mandate inserting the keycard to enter. Baucom then proceeded to wander the public areas of the hotel, apparently looking for a towel to cover himself. During his futile search, he was spotted wandering naked by two female guests, who immediately reported him to hotel security.

In his defense, Adm. Baucom claims he suddenly woke from a deep sleep and believed he was entering the bathroom and didn’t realize he was actually exiting the room. He was found roaming the grounds at 5:45 a.m. Upon realizing he was naked and exposed, Adm. Baucom knew he had to find a towel and get to the front desk to be let back in his room, he told investigators,

“I’m looking for something to cover up with. So I’m looking for just something, if I can find a spare towel anywhere or something laying around so I can get to the lobby, get a key, and get back to my room.”

The report mentions Rear Adm. David Baucom had downed at least eight drinks, including a gin and tonic, two glasses of wine, and four orders of scotch after a dinner at a trade conference, reported New York Daily News.

Baucom admitted his mistake saying, “I accept full responsibility and accountability for my actions. I have served the Navy for more than 34 years and am proud of our institution. I deeply regret my actions caused discredit to the Navy I love.”

Rear Adm. David Baucom added that it was a mistake mixing alcohol and prescription medications that were responsible for his lewd behavior and requested that his 34-year career should not be judged on a single incident. He also blamed the embarrassing situation on a heart problem that left him “lightheaded, disoriented and confused.”

“After extensive medical testing and diagnoses, four doctors have stated in writing that I most probably experienced an atrial fibrillation event the evening of April 8th which caused lightheadedness, disorientation, dizziness and confusion,. These symptoms may last up to 24 hours. I am now being treated for those symptoms and other medical conditions.”

The fact that all actions of Rear Adm. David Baucom were captured on security cameras left him no option, other than admitting his mistake and accept his punishment. He categorically mentioned that after returning to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, the headquarters of the Transportation Command, he voluntarily checked into the drug and alcohol treatment program.

However, the inspector general noted that Rear Adm. David Baucom’s level of intoxication and subsequent public nudity “dishonored or disgraced him personally and seriously compromised his standing as an officer,” reported ABC News.

Rear Adm. David Baucom has been fired from his highly-ranked Navy position and assigned a desk job at the Pentagon.

[Photo by U.S. Navy]