A "pattern of poor professional leadership" cost the chief of the boat his job on the fast attack submarine Columbia .

Master Chief Machinist's Mate (non-nuclear, submarine auxiliary) (SS) Ruben P. Aguirre was fired Wednesday by Cmdr. David Edgerton, commanding officer of the Pearl Harbor-based sub.

"The lack of leadership stemmed from unprofessional conduct in the course of his work duties," said Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, spokesman for Hawaii-based Naval Submarine Forces, Pacific. DeWalt declined to comment further because a command investigation is still ongoing.

Aguirre, who had been aboard Columbia since June 2015, was administratively re-assigned to Naval Submarine Support Command Pearl Harbor.

According to a SUBPAC press release , chiefs of the boat — or COB, as the command senior enlisted advise r is called in the submarine community — are held to a high standard of accountability as members of the command’s leadership triad, which also includes the commanding officer and the executive officer.

The COBs strengthen the chain of command by keeping the commanding officer aware of existing or potential issues of concern, as well as procedures and practices which affect the mission, readiness, welfare and morale of the sailors in the command, the release said.

According to the Navy, Aguirre, a California native, enlisted in the Navy on March 12, 1996.

He is currently frocked to the rank of master chief petty officer; but officially he’s still a senior chief. Because he was selected for master chief last year, Aguirre is allowed to wear the rank and assume the privilege of the rank until his permanent promotion date.

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The master chief’s second star could be taken away from Aguirre by his commanding officer, even without going to captain’s mast, something DeWalt said had not occurred as of Wednesday .