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Navy Cmdr. Michael P. Ward II, who was dismissed last month as a commander of a nuclear submarine, faked his own death in order to end an affair he had been carrying on with a mistress.
Ward was relieved of his duties aboard the USS Pittsburgh a week after taking command of the attack submarine.
It was found that Ward sent his mistress an email from a fictitious person named “Bob” in July, saying that Ward had died unexpectedly. The women later learned that Ward was still alive when she turned up at Ward’s former residence in Burke, Va., to offer her condolences. The new owner told her that Ward had moved to Connecticut to take command of a submarine.
Ward reportedly met the women through an online dating service in October and communicated with her via email. The married officer would visit her frequently during trips to Norfolk, Va., where he would go for training and they later spent a weekend together in Williamsburg, Va., in November.
After he moved to Connecticut, Ward learned that his mistress was pregnant and met up with her in July to discuss the pregnancy. Soon afterward, however, the women lost the baby due to complications.
After investigators learned about the incident, Ward received a letter of reprimand for adultery and other military violations, and paperwork has recently been filed to remove him from the Navy, says Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh’s submarine group.
Ward was eventually found guilty of Uniform Code of Military Justice violations including dereliction of duty, unbecoming conduct and adultery, and received the punitive letter of reprimand.
“The Navy doesn’t kid around with its leadership,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney. “These positions, to command submarines, are very competitive and I think the Navy is right to hold people to the highest standard.”
