Cmdr. Christopher Johnson was relieved of his duties on April 2, 2025, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead Navy Information Operations Command-Colorado. (U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON — The commanding officer of a Colorado information operations command was fired, the Navy said Thursday.
Cmdr. Christopher Johnson was relieved of his duties Wednesday due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead. Navy Information Operations Command-Colorado is a subordinate command of Naval Information Operations Command Pacific, which is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
The U.S. military routinely cites only a vague “loss of confidence” when removing commanders and other leaders from authority positions.
“The Navy maintains the highest standards for commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met,” the Navy said in a statement.
Johnson was temporarily reassigned to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.
Cmdr. Mark Tuner, the naval information forces liaison officer to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, will temporarily serve as NIOC-Colorado’s commanding officer until a permanent replacement is designated.
Johnson assumed command of the information operations command in May 2023.
Johnson, a native of Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in physics and commissioned though Officer Candidate School, according to his biography on the Naval Information Forces website. He also earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on computer architecture and reconfigurable computing from the Naval Post Graduate School.
His assignments include reconnaissance special evaluator and special collections division officer at Naval Security Group Activity Misawa, Japan, and operations officer and reconnaissance special evaluator at Navy Information Operation Command Bahrain in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Johnson also served as a division officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and he completed two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. military’s initial response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has deployed to the western Pacific and Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military’s war on the Islamic State, and served as the U.S. 7th Fleet’s director of the offensive maritime information operations center aboard the USS Blue Ridge, an amphibious command ship.
Johnson’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various campaign, unit and service awards.
