A 44-year-old US Navy Commander was found dead aboard the littoral combat ship USS Marinette in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 27, 2023.
The death of Commander Jonathan Michael Volkle was reported as a suicide, raising concerns about mental health in the military.
The USS Marinette was docked in Cleveland, Ohio, during the incident, and was scheduled to return to its homeport in Mayport, Florida.
Lieutenant Commander David Carter, a command spokesman, emphasized that the incident is under thorough investigation.
Commander Volkle, who joined the Navy in 2007, had a distinguished career, serving in various capacities including commanding the USS Patriot and holding key positions on the USS Kauffman.
His shore assignments included roles at Naval Surface Force Pacific, Destroyer Squadron 15 in Japan, and Littoral Combat Squadron 2. Volkle’s contributions were recognized with multiple awards, including two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Meritorious Service Medal, and three Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals. He was deeply involved in coordinating relations with the Japanese Navy, spoke Japanese fluently, and was said by a colleague to be “without a doubt the most trusted US Naval Officer by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and did more for US-Japan relations than any US military officer in the last 70 years of the alliance.”
This incident highlights a broader issue of increasing suicide rates in the Navy. In 2022, there were 71 reported suicides in the Navy, marking a concerning trend. The Department of Defense’s Annual Report on Suicide in the Military for the same year noted a 3% increase in suicide rates per 100,000 service members across all military branches, indicating a persistent challenge in tackling mental health and suicide prevention.
Jonathan Michael Volkle is survived by his wife, Kaori Kato Volkle, his sons, Bruno and Nino, and his parents, Skip Volkle and Louise Volkle. He was a native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.