The commanding officer of the Navy Operational Support Center Tucson, Arizona, was arrested late last week on charges of driving under the influence, according the Arizona court records.
Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Morton, 39, is scheduled to be in court for an arraignment next Wednesday, court documents said. The Navy is investigating the incident, a spokesman for Navy Reserve Forces Command said.
"Commander, Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command, San Diego, is aware of the incident and is investigating," Cmdr. Doug Gabos said in an email. "We will provide more information once the investigation is complete."
An email to Morton seeking comment was not immediately returned by press time.
A DUI is typically a career killer in the Navy and the arrest may lead to Morton's relief as commanding officer of NOSC Tucson while he goes through the legal process. If the Navy relieves Morton, he would be the 19th commanding officer fired this year, a count that includes squadron-level commanders and a strike group commander.
Morton, a helicopter pilot, was commissioned out of Officer Candidate School in 2001 and has served with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 3, 21 and 23 at North Island, California, and 85 in San Diego. He has also served with Marine Support Wing, San Diego, according to his releasable bio provided by request to Navy Times.
David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.
