Michelle Howard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michelle Howard
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| Born | April 30, 1960 March Air Force Base, California, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 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 USS Rushmore |
| 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 retired four-star admiral from the United States Navy. She was a very important leader, serving as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, and also for a NATO command called Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Before that, she was the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, which is the second-highest position in the Navy. She took on her last big role on June 7, 2016.
Admiral Howard made history many times during her Navy career. She was the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Rushmore. She was also the first to reach the ranks of two-star and three-star admiral. In 2006, she became the first admiral chosen from her graduating class at the United States Naval Academy (class of 1982). She was also the first female graduate of the Naval Academy to become an admiral. On July 1, 2014, Admiral Howard became the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. This made her the highest-ranking woman in U.S. Naval history at that time, and the first female four-star admiral. She also became the first female four-star admiral to lead active military forces. Admiral Howard retired on December 1, 2017, after almost 36 years of service.
In 2021, Admiral Howard was chosen to be part of The Naming Commission. This group was created by Congress to change the names of U.S. military places and items that were named after people connected to the Confederate States of America. She became the leader of this commission in March 2021.
Contents
Early Life and School
Michelle Howard was born at March Air Reserve Base in California. Her father, Nick Howard, was a master sergeant in the United States Air Force. Her mother's name is Phillipa. Michelle graduated from Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado, in 1978. She then went to the United States Naval Academy and earned a science degree in 1982. Later, in 1998, she earned a master's degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
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Admiral Howard's first jobs at sea were on the ships USS Hunley and USS Lexington. While on the USS Lexington, she received a special award for outstanding leadership in May 1987. In 1990, she became the Chief Engineer on the USS Mount Hood. She served during the Gulf War, which included Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In July 1992, she became the First Lieutenant on the USS Flint. In January 1996, she became the Executive Officer of the USS Tortuga. She helped with a peacekeeping mission in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. After that, the Tortuga went on a training trip to West Africa, working with navies from seven African countries.
On March 12, 1999, Michelle Howard took command of the USS Rushmore. This was a huge moment because she became the first African-American woman to command a warship in the U.S. Navy. From May 2004 to September 2005, she led Amphibious Squadron 7. During this time, she helped with tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and worked on maritime security in the North Persian Gulf.
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Admiral Howard also had many important jobs on land. She was an instructor for a steam engineering course. She also worked as a liaison to a committee that advised on women in the military. From 2001 to 2003, she worked on global operations and readiness for the Joint Staff. She was also the Executive Assistant to the Joint Staff Director of Operations from 2003 to 2004. From 2005 to 2006, she was the Deputy Director N3 on the OPNAV Staff.
From 2006 to 2009, she held several other important roles, including Deputy Director of Expeditionary Warfare and senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. From 2010 to 2012, she was the chief of staff for Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff. From 2012 to 2013, she was the Deputy Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.
In April 2009, Admiral Howard took command of Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) aboard the USS Boxer. The Boxer was the main ship for CTF 151, a group of different countries working together to stop piracy in the Indian Ocean. She played a key role in rescuing Captain Richard Phillips, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates. This event later became a major movie.
Admiral Howard was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on September 1, 2007. She became a full rear admiral on August 1, 2010, and a vice admiral on August 24, 2012. On July 1, 2014, she was promoted to admiral, becoming the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations on the same day.
Her Promotions
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
 Rear admiral (lower half) |
September 1, 2007 |
 Rear admiral |
August 1, 2010 |
 Vice admiral |
August 24, 2012 |
| Admiral |
July 1, 2014 |
After retiring from the Navy on December 1, 2017, Admiral Howard became a visiting professor at George Washington University. There, she taught about cybersecurity and international policy. In March 2019, the company IBM announced that she had joined its board of directors.
In November 2020, Admiral Howard was a volunteer member of the team that helped President Joe Biden's administration get ready to take office. She supported efforts related to the Defense Department. On February 12, 2021, the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, appointed her as one of four representatives to 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. She became the chair of this commission on March 2, 2021.
Awards and Honors
Admiral Howard has received many awards for her service. Some of her top awards include:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal (twice)
- Defense Superior Service Medal (twice)
- Legion of Merit (three times)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Navy Commendation Medal (four times)
- Navy Achievement Medal
She also received the 2008 Women of Color Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Career Achievement Award. In 2009, she received the Dominion Power Strong Men and Women Excellence in Leadership Award. In 2011, she was named the USO Military Woman of the Year.
On February 1, 2013, the NAACP honored Admiral Howard with the "Chairman's Award" at their 44th Image Awards. She also received the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins Award in 1987.
On June 13, 2015, the American Public University System gave Admiral Howard an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree. This was to recognize her many years of service in the U.S. Navy, her work to help women advance in the military, and her continued service to people around the world.
On May 22, 2021, Admiral Howard was the main speaker at the graduation ceremony for Fordham University. She received an honorary doctorate degree for her achievements and leadership in the U.S. armed forces. She is also an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
See also
- List of female United States military generals and flag officers
