This article was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — The commander of the prison at Guantánamo Bay has been fired following an investigation, the United States Southern Command said on Sunday.
Adm. Craig S. Faller relieved Rear Adm. John C. Ring for a “loss of confidence in his ability” to lead, the Southern Command said in a brief statement. Admiral Ring’s deputy, Brig. Gen. John F. Hussey, was assigned acting commander, it added.
Col. Amanda Azubuike, a spokeswoman for the Southern Command, which oversees the prison, said the decision to remove Admiral Ring had nothing to do with a recent news media visit he hosted there. Colonel Azubuike said only that an investigation of Admiral Ring “was completed” before the visit.
Admiral Ring, a former commander of the aircraft carrier Nimitz, was the 18th leader of the prison operations that began in January 2002. He was serving an assignment that started in April 2018 and was due to be replaced in June by Rear Adm. Timothy C. Kuehhas.