Military officials are very sad to announce the death of one of their own, a Navy SEAL commanding officer who died on Tuesday from wounds sustained during a weekend training session.
The 43-year-old officer, Brian Micheal Bourgeois, was injured on Saturday during a “fast-rope training evolution” from a helicopter in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Naval Special Warfare Command announced Bourgeois’ injury and death in a press release on Wednesday.
After the accident, Bourgeois, who was the commanding officer of SEAL Team 8, was transported to a hospital in Norfolk, where he was later pronounced dead.
“Initial indications show that the tragedy occurred during a fast-rope training evolution,” Lt. Cmdr. Kara Handley, spokeswoman for Naval Special Warfare Command, told The New York Post.
“There is an ongoing command and safety investigation into the incident, and we will release those findings at the appropriate time,” The Post reported.
According to Navy officials, the executive officer of SEAL Team 8 has temporarily assumed command of the unit. Bourgeois, who received his commission from the US Naval Academy in 2001, was the recipient of several awards and decorations in his service record, including a Bronze Star, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and an Iraq Campaign Medal.
“Brian was one of our very best leaders, who possessed all the attributes that make our force effective,” Rear Adm. H.W. Howard III, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, said in a statement. “We will miss his charismatic leadership and faithful stewardship of our standard. His legacy carries on in teammates he served with, led, and mentored.”
According to the Navy Times, Bourgeois’ wife, Megan, and five children were by his side when he passed away. He joined SEAL Team 8 last year after earning the rank of commander in September 2017.
He will greatly be missed.
