Navy Sub Boss Who Faked Death To End Affair Dismissed From Command


A navy sub boss who faked his own death in order to end an affair has been dismissed from his command, according to investigation documents. The Navy commander was dismissed last month as commander of a Connecticut-based nuclear submarine.

Navy Commander Michael P. Ward II was dismissed from his duties aboard the USS Pittsburgh just one week after he took command of the attack submarine, reports The Denver Post.

Investigators discovered that Ward sent his mistress an email with an alias named Bob in July. He posed as a co-worker and stated that Ward had passed away unexpectedly. Navy Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Cragg, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh’s submarine group in Groton, stated that Ward received a letter of reprimand for both adultery and other military violations.

Ward has not responded to requests for comment about the situation. The woman who Ward was having an affair with found out that the sub boss was still alive after she showed up at his former residence to offer her condolences. The home’s new owner informed her that the Commander had moved to Connecticut in order to take command of a sub.

Jon Boyle, the new owner of Ward’s house, stated, “She was very surprised.” The sub boss who faked his death met his mistress through an online dating service last October. He used an alias to communicate with her through email, according to the investigation report.

The married Navy officer visited her during his trips to the Norfolk, Virginia area in order to train. They even spent a weekend together in Williamsburg, Virginia in November. Boston.com notes that Ward learned soon after moving to Connecticut that his mistress was pregnant. In late July, he even met with her in Washington to talk about handling the pregnancy, but she lost the baby from complications.

The investigators have said the sub boss’s relationship with his mistress ended in late July, but that Ward stayed in touch with the woman by phone and email. The documents also didn’t indicate if the woman knew Ward was married. Navy Capt. Vernon Parks, commander of a submarine development squadron, wrote that:

“Commander Ward’s dishonesty and deception in developing, maintaining, and attempting to end his inappropriate relationship… were egregious and are not consistent with our Navy’s expectations of a commissioned officer.”

Cragg added that the sub boss who faked his death was found guilty of Uniform Code of Military Justice violations on September 5, related to the ruse.

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