Michelle Howard

Admiral Michelle Howard is a trailblazing retired United States Navy four-star admiral with a distinguished 36-year career, known for breaking numerous barriers in military leadership and continuing her impact in cybersecurity and international policy. After becoming the first African-American woman to command a United States Navy ship, the USS Rushmore, in 1999, Admiral Michelle Howard went on to a trailblazing 36-year career in military leadership. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in 1982, she furthered her education by earning a Master of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1998.

Her early sea tours included service aboard USS Hunley and USS Lexington, where she received the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins award in 1987 for outstanding leadership. She also served with distinction during the Gulf War, participating in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm while aboard USS Mount Hood. Admiral Howard’s career advanced steadily, marked by her promotion to rear admiral (lower half) in 2006, making her the first Naval Academy graduate from the class of 1982 and the first female graduate selected for flag rank. In 2009, she played a key role in the successful rescue of Captain Richard Phillips during counter-piracy operations.

In 2021, she was sworn in as chair of The Naming Commission, a congressional body charged with renaming U.S. military assets associated with the Confederate States of America. Admiral Howard remains a prominent voice in cybersecurity and international policy, leveraging her extensive experience to shape critical discussions and initiatives.