The U.S. Navy relieved Capt. Mathew Loe from his post as commanding officer of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore, according to a Friday announcement by the service. Rear Adm. Kevin Brown, head of Naval Medical Forces Pacific, removed Loe following an unspecified loss of confidence in his ability to command, according to reports by Military Times and Task & Purpose.
Command Leadership Changes at Naval Air Station Lemoore
Capt. Mathew Loe took over leadership of the California-based medical training unit in July 2025, serving in the role for roughly one year before his dismissal. Following the relief, the Navy temporarily reassigned Loe to Naval Medical Forces Pacific, according to Task & Purpose. The command’s executive officer, Capt. Robin Bennett, stepped in as the interim leader to oversee daily operations.
“The relief of the CO does not impact the command’s operational readiness,” the Navy stated in an official release cited by Task & Purpose. The Navy routinely uses the phrase “loss of confidence” to cover a broad range of administrative and personnel issues, spanning everything from poor organizational performance to specific misconduct.
Mission Scope of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore
Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California, serving as a training hub for medical staff who support Navy and Marine Corps units. Alongside its training mission, the facility runs Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, delivering medical care to active-duty service members, veterans, and military families. According to Navy Medicine data cited by Task & Purpose, the command provides healthcare services to more than 30,000 individuals.
Loe’s naval career includes a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing, extensive civilian nursing experience, and a deployment to Afghanistan in 2008. His prior assignments include serving as head of deployment health at Naval Branch Health Clinic Gulfport in Mississippi, alongside multiple roles within the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Prior to stepping up as the commanding officer at Lemoore, Loe served as both the executive officer of the command and deputy director of the base clinic. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.