The commanding officer of the U.S.S. Gettysburg, the ship which mistakenly fired on a U.S. Navy jet in the Red Sea this weekend, is a native of Adak.
Two Navy pilots managed to eject safely after their F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was mistakenly shot down on Sunday in what officials called “an apparent case of friendly fire.” One of the pilots has minor injuries, according to the U.S. Central Command.
The U.S. Navy has been in the region for over a year as it protects commercial ships from Iranian-Yemen Houthi rebels, which have been attacking ships regularly.
Prior to the friendly fire incident, Centcom said that U.S. forces were conducting strikes against Houthi missile storage facilities, and had been shooting down multiple unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile. The ship is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests; both U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including F/A-18s, are part of the operation.
Captain Justin Hodges, originally from Adak, commands the Gettysburg. He has a bachelor of science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a masters of engineering management from Old Dominion University and a master of arts in national security from the U.S. Naval War College. Hodges took over command of the guided-missile cruiser in February of 2023.
The U.S.S. Gettysburg, 567 feet long, is part of the U.S.S. Harry S, Truman Carrier Strike Group. The jet that was shot down was flying off the U.S.S. Harry S Truman.
According to Hodges’ official bio, he served as the first lieutenant in U.S.S. Stethem (DDG 63), was a reactor mechanical division Officer in U.S.S. Nimitz Operations Office in U.S.S. McFaul, and reactor training assistant in U.S.S Harry S. Truman. He completed deployments as executive officer and commanding officer in U.S.S. Gravely and served as reactor officer in U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Ashore, Hodges was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence as surface anti-submarine warfare analyst; Joint Forces Command as an observer/trainer; commander, Naval Air Force, Atlantic (CNAL) as the force reactor training assistant; and participated in the Career Intermission Program.
He has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorius Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and other personal, unit, and campaign awards.
Centcom said that an investigation into the friendly fire incident would get under way.