A casual encounter at a bar in Chesapeake, Virginia, an equal opportunity complaint and lies to investigators combined to end Capt. Anthony Simmons' tenure as head of Destroyer Squadron Two.
The former squadron boss went alone to pick up food and grab a beer at Wild Wing Café on Aug. 5 when he struck up an hour-long conversation with a woman at the bar, who turned out to be an enlisted sailor. The conversation crossed the line with the woman, who found out later he was an O-6 and filed a complaint, according to an investigation obtained by Navy Times.
During the visit, which totaled about an hour and a half, Simmons knocked back three draft beers — between 16 and 22 ounces, according to the investigation — then got in his car and left after handing the woman a piece of paper with his cell phone number on it.
But it wasn't the sexual harassment claim that undid Simmons — he was cleared of any inappropriate behavior by the investigation — nor was it drinking beers and driving. It was allegedly lying to investigators.
On Aug. 12, Simmons was called in to discuss the woman's complaint with an investigating officer who asked him to recount the evening.
Simmons' story differed from the woman's version. He claimed his wife had accompanied him to the bar and was waiting in the car outside. He also claimed he only had one beer and left after 20 minutes. The investigator asked him if he had anything to add or delete from the statement. He did not.
Then the investigator told him that he'd reviewed the security camera footage at Wild Wing Café and that it had painted a very different picture of the encounter.
Then Simmons fessed up: His wife did not accompany him to the bar; he didn't remember having three beers but if the camera showed it, it must be true; and he admitted he'd been there longer than 20 minutes.
He told investigators that he'd wondered that morning: "How much of the story should I tell?"
"These actions demonstrate both a lack of integrity and a lack of professional recognition of a Commanding Officer's vulnerability to the vanity of command," the investigator wrote.
Simmons did not respond to an email seeking comment. A one-line email from Simmons in August said that the "Navy lost an elite officer."
Strike Group 12 boss Adm. Roy Kelly found Simmons guilty at mast after reviewing the investigation.
"Capt. Simmons went before Rear Adm. Kelley during Admiral's Mast on Aug 31 and was found to have violated UMCJ Article 107 (Making False Official Statements) and Article 133 (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman)," according to a statement from SURFLANT. "Capt. Simmons was awarded a punitive letter of reprimand."
Simmons, a 26-year surface warfare officer, had previously commanded the destroyer Lassen and the patrol craft Hurricane; he briefly took command of destroyer James E. Williams in the wake of a 2014 investigation. His shore assignments include a tour with the chief of naval operations staff in the surface warfare division, and a tour at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Simmons is a graduate of Austin Peay State University in Tennessee and was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in June 1990, according to his official bio.
David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.
