Special warfare officer relieved of command
By JACK DORSEY , The Virginian-Pilot
© November 22, 2006
Last updated: 7:50 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH - The commanding officer of Special Boat Team 20, based at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, has been relieved of command.

Cmdr. Ken Houck was relieved on Monday by Capt. Evin Thompson, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Group Four at Little Creek, according to a news release Tuesday from the Naval Special Warfare Command, based in San Diego.

The action was taken "due to a lack of confidence in his ability to command," the release said. No further details were released.

Houck was temporarily assigned to another command to allow an independent command investigation.

Cmdr. Kent Paro was assigned as acting commanding officer of Special Boat Team 20 until the investigation is complete, the release said.

The special boat team is the Navy's East Coast command responsible for training and equipping special warfare combatant craft crew

members to support special operations missions, the Navy said.

"Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed, and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure. "
George W. Bush