The U.S. Navy unexpectedly dismissed the commanding officer and command master chief of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 4 (MSRON 4), a key security unit based in Virginia Beach. Cmdr. Brett Robblee and Command Master Chief Felix Phillips were relieved of their duties on Friday, with the Navy citing a “loss of confidence in their ability to perform leadership duties.”
No further details were provided regarding the reasons for the abrupt decision, leaving many to speculate about the circumstances behind the sudden leadership change. Both Robblee and Phillips had been in their respective roles for less than a year, with Phillips joining MSRON 4 in October 2023, and Robblee assuming command in June 2024.
“The commanding officer and command master chief of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4 were relieved April 11 due to a loss of confidence in their ability to perform leadership duties,” a press release said.
“MSRON 4 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brett Robblee and Command Master Chief Felix Phillips were relieved by Capt. Christopher Milner, commander of Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 2 which is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Navy maintains the highest standards for its leaders and holds them accountable when those standards are not met. Navy maritime expeditionary security forces operate ashore and at sea to provide protection to U.S. assets in and near ports, harbors, and coastal waterways worldwide. There is no impact to MSRON 4’s mission due to the relief.”
In the wake of their removal, the Navy appointed Capt. Jason Labott and Command Master Chief Clayton Alek-Finkelman to take over leadership at MSRON 4. Labott, who had been serving as deputy commander for Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2, now assumes the role of commanding officer at MSRON 4. Alek-Finkelman, the former command master chief of MESG 2, will now serve as the command master chief for MSRON 4.
Both Robblee and Phillips have been reassigned to administrative roles at Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, according to reports from Task and Purpose. The Navy has yet to offer additional clarification on the circumstances that led to the leadership change.
