In a historic move highlighting the value of leadership responsibility, the Coast Guard has ended the responsibilities of its highest-ranking chaplain, Capt. Daniel Mode, because of a “loss of confidence” in his capacity to perform his job. The action comes after an investigation concluded that Capt. Mode did not respond appropriately when informed of relations misconduct by another chaplain, indicating the Coast Guard’s determination to uphold high moral standards.
The center chaplain in the misconduct, now no longer on active duty, was a party in an incident prior to being in the Navy and later in the Coast Guard. The administrative investigation into the actions and decision of Capt. Mode concluded that his actions and decisions did not reflect the judgment expected of a senior leader and Chaplain of the Coast Guard, a position where discernment and moral leadership are particularly important.
Capt. Mode began his career in 1988 as a chaplain candidate to become a Roman Catholic priest. His course involved different naval assignments, In June 2007, he came into active duty with postings with the carrier USS Harry S. Truman in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; the George Washington Strike Group; and as command chaplain at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is also the author of “The Grunt Padre,” a biography of Father Vincent Capodanno, a Navy chaplain who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Despite Capt. Mode’s past commendations, the probe unraveled a significant failure of judgment. The Coast Guard’s leadership criteria for relations harassment and assault cases have since been very strict after Operation Fouled Anchor uncovered widespread problems within the academy’s response to such cases. The incident also coincides with Senate investigations into the Coast Guard’s behavior regarding relations assault probes.
Capt. Mode will be reassigned in the Navy Chaplain Corps, but outside the Coast Guard, and Capt. Richard Ryan has been appointed as the temporary Chaplain of the Coast Guard.
