Michelle Howard

Michelle Howard
Born	(1960-04-30)April 30, 1960 March Air Force Base,California,U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1982–2017
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Vice Chief of Naval Operations United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa Allied Joint Force Command Naples Combined Task Force 151 Expeditionary Strike Group Two Amphibious Squadron 7 Task Force Two Zero USSRushmore
Battles/wars	Gulf War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal(2) Defense Superior Service Medal(2) Legion of Merit(3) Meritorious Service Medal Navy Commendation Medal(4) Navy Achievement Medal
Spouse(s)	Wayne Cowles

Michelle Janine Howard(born April 30, 1960) is a retiredUnited States Navyfour-star admiral who last served as the commander of theUnited States Naval Forces Europe,United States Naval Forces AfricaandAllied Joint Force Command Naples.She previously was the 38thVice Chief of Naval Operations.She assumed her last assignment on June 7, 2016.

Howard achieved many historical firsts throughout her naval career. She was the first African-American woman to command a United States Navy ship,USSRushmore,and the first to achieve two- and three-star rank. In 2006, she was selected for the rank of rear admiral (lower half),making her the first admiral selected from theUnited States Naval Academyclass of 1982 and the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy selected for flag rank. On July 1, 2014, Howard was appointed Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the second highest ranking officer in the Navy.

Upon her swearing in, Howard became the highest-ranking woman (until the swearing in ofLisa Franchetti) and first female four-star admiral inUnited States Navalhistory.Howard also became the first female four-star admiral to command operational forces, when she assumed command of United States Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa. Howard retired on December 1, 2017 after nearly 36 years of service in the United States Navy.

In 2021, Howard was appointed toThe Naming Commission,a congressional commission created to rename U.S. military assets and locations with names associated with theConfederate States of America(CSA), and was sworn in as its chair in March.

Early life and education

Howard was born atMarch Air Force Basein California, the daughter ofUnited States Air Forcemaster sergeant Nick Howard, and his wife, Phillipa. Howard is a 1978 graduate ofGateway High SchoolinAurora, Colorado.She graduated from theUnited States Naval Academywith aBachelor of Sciencein 1982 and from theUnited States Army Command and General Staff Collegein 1998 with aMaster of Military Art and Science.

Naval career

Howard meeting with U.S. Navy sailors aboardUSSFort McHenryin July 2009

Howard gives a speech at theNew York Mercantile Exchangein June 2010, duringFleet Week.

Howard's initial sea tours were aboardUSSHunleyandUSSLexington.While serving on board USSLexington,she received the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins award in May 1987. This award is given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership. She reported toUSSMount Hoodas Chief Engineer in 1990 and served in theGulf War,during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She assumed duties as First Lieutenant on boardUSSFlintin July 1992. In January 1996, she became the Executive Officer ofUSSTortugaand deployed to the Adriatic in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, a peacekeeping effort in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. Sixty days after returning from the Mediterranean deployment,Tortugadeparted on a West African Training Cruise, where the ship's sailors, with embarked U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard detachment, operated with the naval services of seven African nations.

Howard assumed command ofUSSRushmoreon March 12, 1999, becoming the first African-American woman to command a warship in the United States Navy. Howard commandedAmphibious Squadron 7from May 2004 to September 2005. Deploying withExpeditionary Strike Group 5,operations included tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and maritime security operations in the North Persian Gulf.

Howard addressing the crew ofUSSWaspin December 2009

Howard's shore assignments include: Course Coordinator/Instructor for the Steam Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) course; Action Officer and Navy's liaison to theDefense Advisory Committee on Women in the Military Services(DACOWITS) in the Bureau of Personnel; Action Officer J-3, Global Operations, Readiness on the Joint Staff from 2001–2003; Executive Assistant to the Joint Staff Director of Operations from February 2003 to February 2004; and Deputy Director N3 on the OPNAV Staff from December 2005 to July 2006.

Howard was the Deputy Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division, OPNAV staff from July 2006 to December 2006, and senior military assistant to the secretary of the Navy January 2007 – January 2009. She was chief of staff to the director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5,Joint Stafffrom August 2010 until July 2012.From August 2012 to July 2013 she was Deputy Commander,United States Fleet Forces Commandheadquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

Howard assumed command ofExpeditionary Strike Group 2andCombined Task Force 151(CTF 151) aboard the amphibious assault shipUSS Boxerin April 2009.Boxerwas the flagship for CTF 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. She played a key role in the rescue ofCaptain Richard Phillips,whose kidnapping by Somali pirates became a major motion picturefilm.

Howard was promoted to rear admiral (lower half), effective September 1, 2007 and to rear admiral, effective August 1, 2010. She was promoted to vice admiral on August 24, 2012.

On July 1, 2014, Howard was promoted to admiral. She became the 38thVice Chief of Naval Operationsthe same day.

Dates of ranks

Promotions

Rank	Date
Rear admiral (lower half)	September 1, 2007
Rear admiral	August 1, 2010
Vice admiral	August 24, 2012
Admiral	July 1, 2014

Career after retiring from the Navy

After Howard retired from the Navy on December 1, 2017, she became the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs atGeorge Washington University,teaching cybersecurity and international policy.IBMannounced that it appointed Howard to its board, effective March 1, 2019.

In November 2020, Howard was named a volunteer member of theJoe Biden presidential transitionAgency Review Team to support transition efforts related to theDefense Department.On February 12, 2021, Secretary of DefenseLloyd Austinappointed Howard as one of four Departmental representatives to theCommission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America.She was sworn in as the commission's chair on March 2, 2021.

Awards and decorations

Joint Chiefs of StaffBadge
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Defense Distinguished Service Medal			Navy Distinguished Service Medalw/ 1 goldaward star
Defense Superior Service Medalw/ 1 bronzeoak leaf cluster		Legion of Meritw/ 2 award stars		Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medalw/ 3 award stars		Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal		Joint Meritorious Unit Awardw/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Navy Unit Commendation		Navy Meritorious Unit Commendationw/ 3 bronzeservice stars		Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendationwith"O" device
National Defense Service Medalw/ 1 service star		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal		Southwest Asia Service Medalw/ 1 service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal		Global War on Terrorism Service Medal		Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal		Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbonw/ 1 silver service star		National Order of the Legion of Honour (Knight)(France)
NATO Medalfor Former Yugoslavia		Kuwait Liberation Medal(Saudi Arabia)		Kuwait Liberation Medal(Kuwait)
Command at Sea insignia
Allied Joint Force Command Naples

Howard is the recipient of the 2008 Women of Color Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Career Achievement Award, 2009 Dominion Power Strong Men and Women Excellence in Leadership Award,and the 2011 USO Military Woman of the Year.

On February 1, 2013, Howard was honored with the "Chairman's Award" at the 44thNAACPImage Awards.She is a 1987 recipient of the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League CaptainWinifred CollinsAward.

On June 13, 2015, Howard was awarded the Doctor of Public Service honorary degree from the American Public University System for her many years of service in the United States Navy, her contribution to the advancement of women in the United States Military, and to her continued service to the people of the United States and around the world.

On May 22, 2021, Howard was the speaker for the commencement ceremonies atFordham University,where she received an honorary doctorate of humane letters for her achievements and leadership in the U.S. armed forces.

See also

• List of female United States military generals and flag officers

References

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfromVice Admiral Michelle Howard.United States Navy.

Further reading

• "Michelle Howard".Contemporary Black Biography.The Gale Group, Inc. 2006.RetrievedApril 14,2009.
• Salter, Stephanie (April 18, 2009)."In a generation, a sea change has come to the U.S. Navy".Tribune-Star.Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2009.RetrievedMay 1,2009.
• "First female grad to make admiral reflects on career".Annapolis Capital.May 26, 2006.
• "Naval Academy Holds" 30 Years of Women "Conference".Navy NewsStand(Press release). September 14, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon November 26, 2006.
• "PHIBRON 7 Assumes Responsibilities as MSO for CTF 58".Navy NewsStand(Press release). February 9, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon July 13, 2007.
• "Amphibious Squadron 7 Commander Meets With Coalition Partners to Discuss Humanitarian Relief Efforts".Navy NewsStand.January 11, 2005.
• "MAKING WAVES In The New Navy – African American naval officers".Ebony.September 1999.
• "Flag Officer Announcements".February 10, 2009.
• "Multi-National Task Force Focuses On Preventing Piracy".All Things Considered.NPR. April 13, 2009.
• "Task force commander has busy first week".Navy Times.April 22, 2009.
• Essence (December 16, 2009)."A Hero Among Us: Exclusive Interview with Admiral Michelle Howard".Essence.Essence Communications, Inc.RetrievedFebruary 16,2014.

External links

• Official website
• AppearancesonC-SPAN