An investigation revealed that a U.S. Navy chief installed an unauthorized Starlink satellite dish on a warship to access the internet while deployed. The chief, a former information systems technician, and senior leaders paid for the Starlink High Performance Kit and had it installed on the USS Manchester in April 2023. The dish was used by more than a dozen chief petty officers to communicate with their families and stay updated on news.
Internet access is restricted on Navy ships while underway to prioritize bandwidth for military operations and safeguard against cybersecurity threats. Despite this policy, the group used the Starlink network to send messages home and watch movies, even purchasing signal amplifiers to improve coverage on the ship.
To conceal the network, the chief renamed it as a printer, denied its existence, and intercepted comments about it. The network was funded using the Chief Petty Officer Association’s debit card to cover the $1,000 monthly bill. The unauthorized network was not shared with lower-ranking sailors on the ship.
Following a court-martial where she pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty and providing false statements, the chief was demoted to a chief petty officer. The Navy relieved her of duty due to a loss of confidence in her leadership abilities. The incident underscores the Navy's commitment to upholding high standards of responsibility and accountability among its senior enlisted leaders.
In a separate incident, the commander of the USS John McCain was recently relieved of duty after a photo surfaced showing him firing a rifle with a scope mounted backward, leading to ridicule on social media.
