The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, August 13, 1994              TAG: 9408130296
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   31 lines

KEY SENATE PANEL BACKS MAUZ'S 4-STAR RETIREMENT

A key Senate committee gave its blessing Friday to the retirement plans of Adm. Henry H. Mauz Jr., commander of the Norfolk-based Atlantic Fleet.

The Senate Armed Services Committee endorsed Mauz's nomination to retire with four stars, his current rank, turning aside a Navy lieutenant's claim that he had mishandled her sexual harassment case and should lose two stars because of it.

The committee action clears the way for a vote by the full Senate. No date for that has been set.

Lt. Darlene Simmons, a lawyer stationed in Gulfport, Fla., contends that Mauz did nothing to protect her from retaliation by fellow officers after she was sexually harassed in 1992. The Navy upheld her harassment complaint and has defended Mauz's role in the way her case was handled. Mauz also was accused of retaliating against a senior chief petty officer, George R. Taylor, who publicized alleged improprieties at the Bermuda Naval Station in 1992. Mauz has denied doing anything wrong in that case as well as in Simmons'.

A four-star retirement, requiring Senate approval, will add $1,275 per month to what Mauz would receive if he retired with two stars. by CNB