A 31-year-old Ghanaian-born officer in the United States Army, Captain Stephen O. Adjei, has died following an incident during a certification scuba-diving exercise at Lake Hydra in Pennsylvania.
Adjei, who was originally from Accra, Ghana, was taking part in the training exercise on September 26, 2026, when he reportedly went missing underwater. A search operation was launched, with divers from another group at the facility joining the effort to locate him.
He was eventually brought out of the water and received emergency medical attention, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
West Point mourns fallen captain
News of Adjei’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he had served as an instructor and logistics officer since 2024.
Brigadier General Joe Katz, West Point’s Commandant of Cadets, expressed sympathy to Adjei’s relatives and colleagues, describing him as an officer whose dedication to cadets, teammates and public service had made a lasting impression on the academy.
West Point said military leadership had remained in contact with the officer’s family, friends and unit following the tragedy. A memorial ceremony is expected to be held at the academy in October.
Adjei’s military career
Before joining West Point, Adjei had built a career that included leadership and operational responsibilities within the US Army.
He served as a distribution platoon leader and was deployed to Camp Casey in South Korea. He later became commander of a Forward Support Company attached to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division.
At West Point, he worked in the Department of Military Instruction’s Accession Division. His responsibilities included teaching military science to cadets and serving as a branch representative for areas including the Quartermaster Corps, Transportation Corps, Ordnance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
His service record earned him several military honours, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters. He also held the Pathfinder and Air Assault badges.
Training exercise turns tragic
Lake Hydra, located near Bethlehem in Northampton County, is a former limestone quarry that has become a destination for scuba-diving instruction and certification.
The facility is primarily used for training rather than unrestricted recreational diving, with professional instructors accompanying people taking part in courses. The lake reaches significant depths, and visibility can vary depending on weather and underwater conditions.
On the day of the incident, divers from different training groups were reportedly using the site. When Adjei was reported missing, members of another diving group joined the search.
Two trainees from another group, identified as a paramedic and a doctor, also assisted with emergency treatment after Adjei was recovered from the water.
Cause of death yet to be established
Authorities have not announced a definitive explanation for what caused the officer’s death.
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office is investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. At this stage, reports have indicated that investigators have not established whether the tragedy was connected to a diving-related problem, a medical condition or another factor.
The investigation is expected to provide more information about what happened during the certification dive.
Ghanaian community remembers Adjei
Adjei’s death has also attracted attention in Ghana because of his origins in Accra.
His journey from Ghana to a career in the US military and eventually to an instructional position at one of America’s most prominent military academies has been highlighted in reports following his death.
For colleagues at West Point, however, the focus has been on his contribution to cadets and fellow soldiers.
His death has left a void within the academy’s military community, with colleagues remembering him for his commitment to service and the people he worked alongside.
As investigations continue, family members, friends and fellow soldiers are awaiting further details about the circumstances that ended the life of an officer who had built a distinguished military career on both sides of the Atlantic.
