To the Editor:

Re “Captain Crozier Is a Hero,” by Tweed Roosevelt (Op-Ed, April 4):

I greatly respect Mr. Roosevelt and his family’s immense heritage of service to the nation. In the case of Capt. Brett Crozier, however, he is wrong.

Captain Crozier’s emotional letter, addressed to no one in particular, was attached to an email that included, and intentionally excluded, various people from his direct chain of command. Captain Crozier’s chain of command and my office were communicating with him well before he wrote his letter. He had expressed no alarm at all.

The public disclosure of Captain Crozier’s letter did not affect the flow of support to the ship. The crew was already being tested, isolated and moved off the ship to quarantine. That was all happening as quickly as possible while still providing for the safety of the ship and crew. That plan was in action well before Captain Crozier’s letter, and it continues to be executed today.

The public release of his letter unnecessarily created panic, when what was called for was calm. It was Captain Crozier’s lapse of judgment in a moment of adversity that led to my loss of confidence in him.