Gilbert Clark, the former commandant of the Naval Academy dismissed from his post last month amid concerns over his ability to lead, was seen dancing and drinking alcohol while in uniform with young adults at an Annapolis bar on at least one occasion, according to one witness and a social media video reviewed by the Capital Gazette.
The video has circulated on social media outlets such as r/Navy on Reddit. It has prompted criticism from viewers, including an academy alumnus who pointed to naval hero John Paul Jones’ guidance that “Qualifications of a Naval Officer” include “refined manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor.”
The consensus is that wearing the uniform in a bar does not by itself violate a rule. However, the alum said: “It’s more of how you act while you’re wearing it.”
It’s unclear whether the public carousing was related to Clark’s dismissal. Clark was removed Nov. 24, with the academy announcing it had lost confidence in the commandant. The academy has provided few details publicly to explain the firing.
“We have standards here. We hold those standards,” Superintendent Michael Borgschulte said Monday during an address to the academy’s board of visitors. “Doesn’t matter what your rank is, and I won’t get into the details, but he was not hitting those standards, and so he had to be removed. And he was.”
Clark did not respond this week to multiple requests for comment.
The video was confirmed last week by bar employees to have been taken at O’Brien’s, a popular drinking spot for midshipmen. It depicts Clark, who graduated from the academy in 1998, in “summer whites” — a white, short-sleeved naval uniform — surrounded by other dancers holding drinks. He’s gyrating to Nicki Minaj’s “Starships” in the eight-second clip.
The Capital Gazette could not identify the original source of the video, but its metadata shows it was filmed just after midnight on Sept. 28, the early morning hours after the Midshipmen beat the Rice Owls 21-13 at home on Sept. 27.
The witness said she was at O’Brien’s after a football game around the same time, though she wasn’t sure of the date. The Capital Gazette granted the civilian witness’ request for anonymity because she said she feared retribution against her partner, who is associated with the academy.
The witness said she had seen the commandant earlier, during a tailgate, and noticed that he had been wearing his uniform.
Later, she recalled seeing him dancing and drinking alcohol in uniform at O’Brien’s.
In response to a series of questions from the Capital Gazette about the circumstances surrounding Clark, Cdr. Ashley Hockycko, public affairs officer at the Naval Academy, said in a statement that the decision to relieve Clark of his position was “made with the utmost care and consideration.”
“After a thorough review by higher command leadership, the decision was made to relieve Capt. Clark,” the statement said. “No additional details are available at this time.”
For midshipmen and officers, the summer white uniform can be worn at liberty. Naval Academy guidelines describe the occasions for its use as “Worn in summer for office work, watch-standing, liberty or business when prescribed as uniform of the day.”
The expectations of propriety in uniform are high. For instance, midshipmen are instructed, “While walking in uniform, midshipmen will not smoke, vape, chew tobacco, eat, drink, or publicly display affection. Professional escorting with a hand on an elbow (date, family member, etc.) is allowed.”
Naval Academy alumnus and Texas congressional candidate William Marks, who watched the video, said in a text that everyone deserves due process and a thorough performance review “beyond a 9-second video clip.”
But he also criticized what he described as a worrying development among military leaders. He referenced allegations of alcohol abuse that have been made against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who last year told Republican senators he would cease drinking alcohol if confirmed to the Cabinet.
“If this video is a sign of a larger issue with alcohol abuse and inappropriate behavior — as we’ve seen with the current secretary of defense — it would certainly be grounds for removal,” he said.
“The behavior we accept from our senior leaders becomes the standard for everyone up and down the chain of command. When the secretary of defense is an alcoholic, or the commandant of midshipmen does not act according to his rank, you lay the groundwork for alcohol abuse across the entire military.”
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.
It isn’t an issue for a Naval Academy official to wear their uniform to a bar, Marks said: “It’s more of how you act while you’re wearing it.”
Marks said everyone should read Qualifications of a Naval Officer, “which states an officer should be a gentleman of refined manners as well as the soul of tact, patience and justice — amongst many other important traits.”
Clark had been named in April to take over for Capt. Walter H. Allman III, who had been in the role for a year. Clark was installed in June as the 91st commandant.
During Clark’s time at the academy, he was a member of Navy’s water polo team. After graduation, he spent time as the executive and commanding officer of USS The Sullivans, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer used to fight ISIS.
In documentation Clark drafted around the time of his appointment, he described the commandant’s role as the one who “serves to guide Midshipmen towards developing the Warfighting Ethos each Officer will need upon commissioning to deter through credible strength, and when necessary, fight and W.I.N. our nation’s wars from the sea.” That W.I.N. acronym refers to the values of “warfighting first,” “individual success” and “needs of the midshipmen.” The role is often compared to that of a dean of students, overseeing the training, conduct and development of about 4,400 midshipmen.
Capt. Austin Jackson, who had been the deputy commandant, is functioning as the interim commandant.
In Borgschulte’s address Monday to the board of visitors, he acknowledged Clark’s departure among a series of difficulties at the academy, including a shooting on campus in September, the suicide of a midshipman in October and the impact of the government shutdown in October and November.
Capital Gazette reporter Maggie Trovato contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Benjamin Rothstein at brothstein@baltsun.com, 443-928-1926.