The Navy has confirmed the death of Special Warfare Boat Operator 2nd Class Noah Tobin during a parachute training event in Porterville, California, on July 2. Tobin, who was assigned to Special Boat Team 20, died while attending the Naval Parachute Course conducted by the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command.
Tobin enlisted in the Navy in October 2021 and completed boot camp in December of that year. He graduated from Basic Special Warfare Training in Coronado, California, in November 2023, earning his Enlisted Special Warfare Combatant Crewman qualification. He reported to Special Boat Team 20, based on the East Coast, in May 2024.
The training accident marks the first fatality during a parachute event for Naval Special Warfare since February 2023, when Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael Ernst died during a military freefall in Marana, Arizona.
In a statement, Naval Special Warfare Command said, “We mourn the loss of our sailor, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.” The command added that grief counseling and support services are being provided to Tobin’s family and teammates.
The incident occurred at the Porterville Municipal Airport in Tulare County, a site commonly used for Navy parachute training. According to local media reports, witnesses observed multiple parachutes deploying from an aircraft during the exercise. One jumper’s parachute reportedly failed to open properly, leading to a fatal descent.
Naval Special Warfare Command has temporarily suspended parachute training operations at the site and initiated a safety stand-down while an investigation is underway. The cause of the incident has not yet been determined.
Tobin was a California native, though the Navy has not released his specific age or hometown. His death has prompted renewed attention to safety protocols in high-risk training programs within Naval Special Warfare.
