This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Michelle Howard" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(October 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Michelle Howard
Born
(1960-04-30) April 30, 1960 (age 64) March Air Force Base, California, U.S.
Allegiance
United States
Service/branch
United States Navy
Years of service
1982–2017
Rank
Admiral
Commands held
United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa Allied Joint Force Command Naples Vice Chief of Naval Operations USS Rushmore Amphibious Squadron 7 Expeditionary Strike Group Two Task Force Two Zero
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[1]
Michelle Janine Howard (born April 30, 1960) is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the commander of the United States Naval Forces Europe, United States Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples. She previously was the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She assumed her last assignment on June 7, 2016.[2]
Howard achieved many historical firsts throughout her naval career. She was the first African-American woman to command a United States Navy ship,[3] USS Rushmore,[4] and the first to achieve two- and three-star rank. In 2006, she was selected for the rank of rear admiral (lower half),[5] making her the first admiral selected from the United States Naval Academy class 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 and first female four-star admiral in United States Naval history.[6][7] 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 to The Naming Commission, a congressional commission created to rename U.S. military assets and locations with names associated with the Confederate States of America (CSA), and was sworn in as its chair in March.[8][9]
^Lerman, David; Walcott, John (December 20, 2013). "Black Woman Named to a Top U.S. Navy Job Says Wimps Fail". Bloomberg Politics. Bloomberg, L.P. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
^"Une femme noire amiral à la tête du commandement militaire de l'Otan à Naples". www.45enord.ca (in French). Agence France-Presse. June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
^"US Navy Biography – Michelle Howard". US Navy. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^"Navy Celebrates 2014 African American/Black History Month". US Navy. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2014. Vice Adm. Michelle Howard is recognized for many first accomplishments, including the recognition as the first female United States Naval Academy graduate to be promoted to the rank of admiral, the first black female to command a combatant ship, and the first black female promoted to two-star and three-star admiral. She has also been confirmed by the Senate to serve as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the service's No. 2 uniformed officer. She will be the first black and first woman to hold the job and the first female four-star admiral.
^"Flag Officer Announcements". Defense.gov. May 4, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^Lamothe, Dan (July 1, 2014). "Adm. Michelle Howard becomes first four-star woman in Navy history". The Washington Post. Washington, DC US. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
^Bahrampour, Tara (September 17, 2014). "Meet the Highest-Ranking Woman in U.S. Naval History". Glamour. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
^Cite error: The named reference Austin_CSA commission was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Lundquist, Edward (June 10, 2021). "Commission Examines Assets that Honor the Confederacy, Will Suggest Name Changes". Retrieved January 17, 2022.
Michelle Janine Howard (born April 30, 1960) is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the commander of the United States Naval...
Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard (born September 30, 1960) is an American R&B singer who had top 10 hit songs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, including...
a year later and finalized for a second time in 2007. Howard married his second wife, Michelle Ghent, in 2010. Ghent filed for divorce in February 2011...
threats. But Howard leaves nonetheless. Finally, we see Michelle and Allen attending a wedding, where he intercepts the bouquet so Michelle cannot catch...
Michelle LaVaughn Obama (née Robinson; born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from...
W. Greenert Cecil D. Haney Huntington Hardisty John C. Harvey Jr. MichelleHoward Grace Hopper Rick Husband Daniel James Jr. David E. Jeremiah John F...
replaced Bunch with former Obama administration official Lawrence Romo. MichelleHoward is the chair of the committee with Ty Seidule being the vice-chair...
friend Howard enters the shop and begins talking with Johnny and Michelle. Soon after, three teenagers enter the shop and begin harassing Michelle. Johnny...
Michelle Miller is a national correspondent for CBS News and currently serves as a co-host on CBS Saturday Morning. She has also served as a substitute...
Jessica Michelle Chastain (born March 24, 1977) is an American actress and producer. Known for primarily starring in projects with feminist themes, she...
decide to seek help, so Michelle begins to fashion a makeshift hazmat suit to venture outside. Howard finds some of the tools Michelle and Emmett were using...
Hugh W. Howard (fl. 1990s–2020s), U.S. Navy rear admiral John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk (c. 1425–1485), English Lord Admiral MichelleHoward (born 1960)...
Bryce Dallas Howard (born March 2, 1981) is an American actress and television director. Howard is the first daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard and writer...
Michelle Leigh Monje-Deisseroth is a neuroscientist and neuro-oncologist. She is a professor of neurology at Stanford University and an investigator with...
Holmes James R. Hogg (2 awards) Herbert G. Hopwood Frederick J. Horne MichelleHoward (2 awards) Charles F. Hughes John J. Hyland (2 awards) Royal E. Ingersoll...
Audibert; Commander of U.S. Naval Forces, Europe and Africa, Admiral MichelleHoward; Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, Jr.; and...
Michelle Denise Bernard (born July 30, 1963, Washington, D.C.) is an American journalist, political analyst, lawyer, author, and President and CEO of the...
NBC News. Duggar, Michelle; Duggar, Jim Bob (June 7, 2011). A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work. Howard Books. ISBN 978-1-4391-8381-6...
Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison; born July 9, 1964) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actress. A figure in the alternative and grunge...
Michelle Malkin (/ˈmɔːlkɪn/; née Maglalang; born October 20, 1970) is an American conservative political commentator. She was a Fox News contributor and...
Michelle Leslie (born 1981), who previously worked under the name Michelle Lee, is an Australian interior designer and former model. Leslie gained prominence...
Dwight David Howard II (born December 8, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Mets de Guaynabo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional...
Petty Officer Academy School Chief in the Coast Guard. 12 March: CDR MichelleHoward assumed command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47). She was the first African...
its cancellation in 2015. The show features the Duggar family: parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their 19 children – nine daughters and ten sons...
Global Information
United States
United States Navy