Suit Says Captain Sought Nude Photos

NEWPORT, R.I. — A Naval War College employee is suing a retired Navy captain who she says asked her to pose nude for photographs as part of a “fun but outrageous project” to improve morale among Persian Gulf War sailors.

Nancy Campagna, 34, said Capt. Laurence Gebhardt, a former War College faculty member, caused her “extreme emotional distress” with his offer. Her lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages.

Gebhardt said he was not aware of the suit and would not comment.

Campagna, a civilian employee at the War College, said she told Navy officials of Gebhardt’s actions two years ago and he was reprimanded and forced to retire. But she said in the lawsuit that she did not consider that punishment strict enough.

The War College said in a statement Wednesday that an officer was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and disciplined by Rear Adm. Joseph Strasser, the college’s president, in April 1991.

The college said the unidentified officer is no longer on active duty.