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Published on November 08, 2024
San Diego Naval Information Warfare Training Group CO Cmdr. McFarlane Relieved of Command Amid Misconduct ConcernsSource: Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The U.S. Navy has announced the removal of Cmdr. Cayanne McFarlane from her position as the commanding officer of the Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NITWG) San Diego. According to an official statement from the Navy, Cmdr. McFarlane was relieved by Capt. Meredith Schley, commodore of Naval Information Warfare Training Group, based on a "loss of confidence in her ability to command." The statement, released yesterday, specifies that personal misconduct influenced the decision. The information, reported by the U.S. Navy, did not elaborate further on the nature of the misconduct attributed to McFarlane.

As noted in the release by the U.S. Naval Institute, the Navy maintains strict standards for its commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met. Cmdr. Dominic DiMaggio, previously the executive officer of Fleet Weather Center, San Diego, is set to take over the command of NITWG San Diego temporarily. DiMaggio is tasked with immediately assuming leadership responsibilities until a permanent replacement can be appointed.

Cmdr. McFarlane's tenure as commanding officer of NITWG San Diego began in April 2023, following her role as assistant chief of staff for non-kinetic effects, information operations, electronic warfare, and as the special technical operations program manager for Carrier Strike Group 11, as given in her public service background. Her military career includes a post at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Sicily, Italy, and her commissioning in 2006 after graduating from the Naval Academy.

Since McFarlane's relief from her commanding role, she has been reappointed to work within Naval Information Forces, a reassignment that represents a step back from her previous leadership position. Her successor, Cmdr. Dominic DiMaggio brings his prior experience from the Fleet Weather Center to the interim position and is expected to maintain the operational capabilities of the NITWG San Diego.