NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor Commanding Officer Relieved

News Release from PACCOM, 04 April 2022

On Apr. 4, 2022, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Commanding Officer, Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, relieved the commanding officer of NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Capt. Albert Lee Hornyak due to a loss of confidence in his ability to perform his duties following a series of leadership and oversight failures at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Hornyak served as the commanding officer beginning August 2021. Rear Adm. Kristin Acquavella will be temporarily assigned as commanding officer while a formal replacement is identified. Stamatopoulos will also assign additional senior fuel Defense Fuel Supply Points subject matter experts to assist Acquavella. There is no impact to the FLC’s mission.

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Fired Navy captain privately raised Red Hill concerns, but had a different story publicly

HNN: … Capt. Albert Hornyak became the commanding officer of Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center last August. Two months later, in a video news release, Hornyak discussed the May 6 release of jet fuel at the facility that was initially reported as more 1,600 gallons.

Months later, that leak is believed to be as much 19,000 gallons of fuel.

“The primary cause of the release was operator error,” said Hornyak, in the military’s video news release. “However, I’d like to note that the system operated as designed to minimize the amount of product release as well as maximize the amount of product that was captured,” he added.

Despite his statements, in an email weeks earlier to the US Pacific Fleet commander, he warned about pressure surges in the pipelines. Hornyak wrote that on Sept. 29, contractors heard a loud noise similar to the one heard during the May 6 incident and immediately shut down operations.

Hornyak wrote the next day “a sagging pressure condition” was present in all three pipelines.

“Based on the May 6th event as well as this most recent event, I believe there are multiple valves in the Red Hill pipeline system are potentially leaking,” he added….

The next month after Hornyak wrote his October email, there was a second major leak in late November. Both leaks last year are believed to be the cause of the current contamination….

read … Fired Navy captain privately raised Red Hill concerns, but had a different story publicly

Big Q: What do you make of the Navy’s removal of its officer-in-charge at the Red Hill facility, after the latest fuel leak there?

SA Editorial: Hornyak had been the one to raise concerns about operator error being the cause of the May fuel spill

April 1, 2022: 30 gallons of water and fuel spill at Red Hill storage facility

DOH NEWS RELEASE: DOH INVESTIGATING RED HILL RELEASE OF FUEL AND WATER MIXTURE

CB: Navy Captain Fired After Latest Red Hill Fuel Leak  

SA:  Navy removes officer over handling of latest Red Hill spill