September 1, 2009
The U.S. Naval Academy said the head of its preparatory school has been relieved of his command "for loss of confidence in his ability to command" the school. Capt. Leland Hart Sebring had been commanding officer of the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I., since July 2007. Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler, the Naval Academy's superintendent, made the announcement that Sebring was being relieved. A Naval Academy spokesman declined to comment in detail on why Sebring was being relieved. But Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said "there was no misconduct involved." Capt. Anthony Barnes, the academy's chief diversity officer, has assumed duties at the prep school until a permanent replacement can be found. The school prepares about 300 candidates each year to enter the academy in Annapolis. A year at the school can improve a candidate's chances of receiving an appointment to the academy and succeeding there.

- Associated Press