UPDATED: USS South Dakota Command Triad Relieved After October Grounding, Congressman Says

Caitlyn Burchett and Sam LaGrone – November 12, 2026 12:00 PM – Updated: November 12, 2026 4:54 PM

USS South Dakota (SSN-790) command triad was removed last month following a grounding incident, according to a statement from a member of Congress.

The submarine’s commanding officer, executive officer and chief of the boat were relieved from command on Oct. 14, with the relief allegedly attributed to a grounding incident, according to a letter released Thursday by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Cmdr. Dan Goodwin was relieved as commander of South Dakota, according to a story in the Day newspaper based in New London, Conn. Goodwin assumed command of South Dakota in June of 2026, according to a Pentagon release. A source familiar told USNI News the triad removal followed a soft grounding of the submarine’s rudder.

Lawmakers learned of the relief from a reporter’s request for comment on the dismissal, according to the letter. Nearly one month later, no notifications of the firings or the underlying incident had been made to the House Armed Services Committee.

“The Department of the Navy’s failure to communicate these incidents to Congress is unacceptable,” reads the letter, which is addressed to Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle.

The Navy typically informs Congress of at-sea incidents, accidents and dismissals of command triads.

“The Navy’s lack of transparency leave many outstanding questions about not only what occurred, but the impact of the events leading the triad’s dismissal on the structural health of South Dakota, the well-being of the crew, and whether the incident laid bare any systemic issues with training to standard procedures that must be addressed. As a result of the Navy’s failure to communicate, what should have been a standard exercise in information sharing has instead raised questions about the Navy’s commitment to transparency and its commitment to a productive working relationship with Congress,” reads the letter.

A defense official confirmed the removals to USNI News. A Navy spokesperson acknowledged a question from USNI News but did not immediately provide a comment.

It’s unclear whether South Dakota was damaged.

Commissioned in 2019, South Dakota is one of the Navy’s most advanced submarines and serves as the test bed for new submarine technology.

“The boat received coatings that keep the ship quieter, a quieter water jet propulsor and additional sonars mounted on the sides of the hull to increase the crew’s ability to detect enemy ships and submarines,” USNI News reported in 2016.

The last major grounding of a U.S. attack submarine was in 2021. While operating in the South China Sea, USS Connecticut (SSN-21) collided with an underwater sea mount, resulting in extensive damage to the boat. The submarine is still undergoing repairs.

Caitlyn Burchett and Sam LaGrone

Caitlyn Burchett and Sam LaGrone are USNI News staff writers