A 1982 Naval Academy graduate, Adm. Michelle Howard became the first black woman to command a U.S. Navy combatant ship, USS Rushmore (LSD 47) (1999). She was the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star admiral (2014). Upon her promotion, Howard became the highest ranking woman in U.S. armed forces history and the highest ranking black woman in Navy history. She served as VCNO from 2014 to 2016. Howard also became the first woman four-star admiral to command operational forces when she assumed command of both U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples (NATO) from 2016 to 2017. Howard retired from the Navy in 2017, after nearly 36 years of service. 

More Details

170127-N-SS492-570 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (Jan. 27, 2017) Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Adm. Michelle Howard, right, shakes hands with and presents a coin to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kenneth Terrell at the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Sailor of the Year ceremony Jan. 27, 2017. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, to enable enduring relationships, and increase vigilance and resilience in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian P. Biller/Released)

Michelle Howard

170127-N-SS492-570 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (Jan. 27, 2017) Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Adm. Michelle Howard, right, shakes hands with and presents a coin to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kenneth Terrell at the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Sailor of the Year ceremony Jan. 27, 2017. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, to enable enduring relationships, and increase vigilance and resilience in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian P. Biller/Released)

SHARE IMAGE:

Download Image

Image Details

Photo By: na

VIRIN: 230330-N-SH402-1073

More Details

171016-N-N0901-009 TORONTO ( Oct. 16, 2017) - Adm. Michelle J. Howard, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, delivers remarks at Sibos 2017, an annual conference for the financial industry, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Oct. 16, 2017. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, to enable enduring relationships and increase vigilance and resilience in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo/Released)

Michelle Howard

171016-N-N0901-009 TORONTO ( Oct. 16, 2017) - Adm. Michelle J. Howard, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, delivers remarks at Sibos 2017, an annual conference for the financial industry, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Oct. 16, 2017. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, to enable enduring relationships and increase vigilance and resilience in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo/Released)

SHARE IMAGE:

Download Image

Image Details

Photo By: na

VIRIN: 230330-N-SH402-1071

Last Updated: 31 March 2023