Navy Removes Commander of USS Howard in Japan

The commanding officer of the Japan-based destroyer USS Howard, Cmdr. Kenji Igawa, has been relieved of command due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, according to the U.S. Navy. Capt. Edward Angelinas will temporarily take over as the ship's commander. The reasons for Igawa's relief were not specified, but he had previously been praised for his role as one of the few Japanese-American commissioned officers commanding a ship in a strategically important region. Igawa is the fifth ship commander to be relieved by the Navy this year.