- In full:
- Michelle Janine Howard
- Also called:
- Michelle J. Howard
- Born:
- April 30, 1960, March Air Force Base, near Riverside, California, U.S. (age 66)
Michelle Howard
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Who is Michelle Howard?
Michelle Howard (born April 30, 1960) is a retired U.S. military officer who achieved the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, the first woman to do so. Howard made history several times in her career, including being the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship in 1999. In 2009, she led Expeditionary Strike Group Two in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, where sailors under her command rescued Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. In 2014, Howard became the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations and, in 2016, became commander of naval forces in Europe and Africa. In 2021, she became chair of the Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense That Commemorate the Confederate States of America.
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What is an admiral in the U.S. Navy?
An admiral is a high-ranking naval officer who commands a fleet or group of ships or holds an important shore post. The title originated before the 12th century with Muslim Arabs. By 1620, the word denoted a commander at sea in England.
Michelle Howard is a U.S. military officer who achieved the rank of four-star admiral, the first woman to do so in the U.S. Navy. In 2014, she was appointed the 38th vice chief of naval operations, the second-highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy.
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What are some important positions Michelle Howard has held in the Navy?
Michelle Howard has held several important positions in the U.S. Navy, achieving many firsts for women and African Americans. Some of her notable roles include chief engineer aboard the USS Mount Hood (1990), first lieutenant aboard the USS Flint (1992), and executive officer on the USS Tortuga (1996). In 1999, she became the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship, the USS Rushmore.
Howard commanded Amphibious Squadron 7 (2004–2005) and led Expeditionary Strike Group Two in 2009, becoming the first African American woman to lead a U.S. Navy battle group. In 2014, she was promoted to four-star admiral, the first woman to achieve this rank, and appointed the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
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Why is Michelle Howard considered a trailblazer in the Navy?
Michelle Howard is considered a trailblazer in the Navy for several historic achievements. She was the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship in 1999. Later, she became the first African American woman to lead a U.S. Navy battle group in 2009, when she took command of Expeditionary Strike Group Two. On July 1, 2014, Howard reached another milestone, becoming the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. These accomplishments mark her as a pioneer and role model in the U.S. Navy.
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What challenges did Michelle Howard face in her career?
Michelle Howard faced several challenges in her career. Opportunities for women in U.S. military academies were nonexistent in the early 1970s, but this changed when the Military Procurement Bill was signed in 1975, allowing women's admission starting in 1976. When Howard entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978, she was one of only seven Black women in a class of 1,363 students. Despite these challenges, she achieved several historic milestones, including becoming the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship and the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy.
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How has Michelle Howard influenced the role of women and minorities in the military?
Michelle Howard has greatly influenced the role of women and minorities in the military. In 1999, she became the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship. Later, in 2009, Howard became the first African American woman to lead a U.S. Navy battle group when she took command of Expeditionary Strike Group Two.
On July 1, 2014, Howard achieved another milestone, becoming the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. That same day, she was appointed as the 38th vice chief of naval operations, making her the second highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy.
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Michelle Howard (born April 30, 1960, March Air Force Base, near Riverside, California, U.S.) is a U.S. military officer who was the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. She also made history as the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship (1999).
Howard was born on March Air Force Base (now March Air Reserve Base), California, where her father served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. By the time she was 12 years old, she had started thinking about embarking on a career in the military. Howard discovered, however, that opportunities for women in U.S. military academies during the early 1970s were nonexistent. That circumstance changed when U.S. Pres. Gerald Ford signed (1975) the Military Procurement Bill, which provided for the admission (starting in 1976) of women into the military academies. During high school Howard applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, and, upon entering the academy in 1978, she became one of only seven Black women in the school’s class of 1,363 students. She graduated in 1982 and later earned (1998) a master’s degree in military arts and sciences from the U.S. Army’s Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During Howard’s sophomore year at the academy, she piloted her first ship, the destroyer USS Spruance, during a summer training cruise. She served aboard the submarine tender USS Hunley (1982–85) and the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (1985–87) before being named (1990) the chief engineer aboard the USS Mount Hood. She assumed the duties of first lieutenant (1992) aboard the USS Flint and was the executive officer (1996) on the USS Tortuga. By taking command of the USS Rushmore, Howard became the first African American woman to captain a U.S. naval ship.
She served (May 2004–September 2005) as the commander of Amphibious Squadron 7, which aided in relief in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. She became the first African American woman to lead a U.S. Navy battle group when in 2009 she took command of Expeditionary Strike Group Two. This flotilla guarded (April 2009–July 2010) the Persian Gulf as part of the U.S. war on terrorism and performed anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. Sailors under her leadership rescued Richard Phillips, the captain of the container ship MV Maersk Alabama, who was held hostage (April 8–12, 2009) by Somali pirates. Howard also served in a number of onshore positions, notably as deputy director of the Expeditionary Warfare Division under the chief of naval operations, senior military assistant to the secretary of the navy, chief of staff to the director for strategic plans and policy, and deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, and strategy (N3/N5).
On July 1, 2014, Howard became the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. That day she was also appointed the 38th vicechief of naval operations (VCNO), making her the second highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy. In 2016 she became commander of naval forces in Europe and Africa. The following year she retired from the navy. In 2021 Howard became chair of the Commission 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 (commonly called the Naming Commission).