Michelle Howard
U.S. Navy, 1978-2017

Michelle Howard
U.S. Navy, 1978-2017

Born into a military family, Michelle Howard graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982, where she was one of only seven African American women. During Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), she served aboard the USS "Mount Hood" as chief engineer. Upon assuming command of the USS "Rushmore" in 1999, Howard became the first African American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship. In 2009, Howard served in the U.S. Central Command theater, commanding task forces and multi-national counter-piracy operations. Under her leadership during this time, sailors rescued Captain Richard Phillips held hostage by Somali pirates. Howard was promoted to four-star admiral in 2014 and appointed the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, making her the second highest ranking officer in the U.S. Navy. At that time, she was the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. Armed Forces and the highest ranking African American and woman in U.S. Naval history. She also became the first woman combatant commander upon assuming command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa. Admiral Howard expressed that she felt, “a heavy obligation to make the Navy a place [sailors] want to continue to stay in and become the leadership themselves. Whatever goals we set for ourselves we know we can go higher—I'm obligated to help set that legacy." Howard retired in 2017 after nearly 36 years.