Faces of Black Excellence

Michelle J. Howard, the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship

Michelle J. Howard is a trailblazer for the African-American woman, who had a career in the Navy filled with firsts. A graduate from Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado, Howard, born on April 30, 1960, in Riverside, California enrolled in the United States Naval Academy.

She graduated from the academy in 1982 and from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1982 with a master’s in military arts and sciences.

Born into a military family, Howard’s father served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.

Howard was one of the seven African-American women amongst the U.S. Naval Academy’s 1,363 students when she enrolled in 1978.

Howard’s initial sea tours were aboard USS Hunley (AS 31) and USS Lexington (AVT 16). She received the secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins award in May 1987 while serving aboard Lexington – an award given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership.

As chief engineer in 1990 with the USS Mount Hood (AE29), she served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In July 1992, she assumed duties as the first lieutenant on board the USS Flint (AE 32).

In January 1996, she became the executive officer of USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and deployed to the Adriatic in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, a peacekeeping effort in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. 

Howard took command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47) on March 12, 1999, becoming the first African-American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy. She was also the commander of Amphibious Squadron 7 from May 2004 to September 2005.

In 2009, she commanded Expeditionary Strike Group 2 from April 2009 to July 2010 when it was deployed off the coast of Africa.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that “the Norfolk-based cargo ship Maersk Alabama had been boarded by Somali pirates and its captain was being held hostage aboard a life raft for ransom” and it was Howard’s job to set him free.

She had only been on the job aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer for a week.

“That’s an eye-opening way to start a new job. Very quickly we had several ships, special forces, aircraft and it seemed like everyone in the world was focused on one American and trying to make sure he didn’t end up on shore in Somalia,” Howard said in 2012. “Synchronizing that kind of might and capability was pretty amazing.”

In 2014, she was the first woman to become a four-star Admiral in the U.S. Navy and the first woman to be appointed to the position of Vice Chief of Naval Operations (number two in a Military Service). She is the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-stars in the Armed Forces as well.

Howard retired from the Navy in 2017 after completing her last assignment as the commander of naval forces in Europe and Africa.

Two years later, IBM appointed her to its board. IBM CEO Ginni Rometty said in a statement, “Admiral Howard is a groundbreaking leader with a distinguished career in military service.”

“Her leadership skills, international perspective and extensive experience with cybersecurity and information technology will make her a great addition to the IBM Board.”

Howard now teaches cybersecurity and international policy at George Washington University.

Mohammed Awal

Recent Posts

10 Black actors who learned and mastered incredible new skills for movie roles

Whether preparing for action-packed scenes or delving into historical accuracy, talent alone doesn’t always deliver…

5 hours ago

64-year-old teacher from Senegal gets a melon-sized tumor removed from face after life-changing surgery

Auguste, a 64-year-old teacher from Dakar, Senegal, has returned to the classroom after undergoing life-changing…

6 hours ago

Paystack and other African startups that had multi-million dollar exits: report

Over the last few years, startups have faced challenges when trying to exit, due to…

7 hours ago

Black shop owner spat on by man in Trump shirt over Kamala Harris sign

Tanya Young Williams, a Black shop owner, recounted that a man wearing a Donald Trump…

9 hours ago

Meet Geoffrey Ogunlesi, the 33-year-old Nigerian billionaire heir set to marry Jennifer Meyer, the 47-year-old ex wife of Tobey Mcguire

Wedding bells are set to ring as billionaire heir Geoffrey Ogunlesi has proposed to his…

9 hours ago

Catching up with the times: 15 GenZ slang you should know

Language evolves with every generation, and Gen Z—those born roughly between 1997 and 2012—has taken…

10 hours ago

Angel Reese alleges racism from Caitlin Clark fans, claiming they sent AI-generated nude pictures to her family

Chicago Sky player Angel Reese has accused fans of fellow WNBA player Caitlin Clark of…

10 hours ago

Defying the odds, these sisters are now behind the first Black women-owned cannabis company to achieve 100% vertical integration in Ohio

The cannabis industry has over the years seen little participation of women and the involvement…

10 hours ago

Nine Chicago-area mayors petition Biden to pardon former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

Nine Chicago-area mayors have petitioned President Joe Biden to pardon former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.…

15 hours ago

NFL star Myles Garrett now working with a former NASA scientist to revolutionise energy storage

Even before he retires from the NFL, Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett has turned his attention…

1 day ago

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears launches historic bid for Virginia governor

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is poised to make history as the first Black woman to…

1 day ago

50 Cent is nearing billionaire status but wants to remain single, here’s why

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, who is reportedly nearing billionaire status, has revealed his contentment with…

1 day ago

How a Michigan inmate triumphed in overturning a conviction after representing himself in court

Gregory Tucker served as his own lawyer and won an appeal of a case that…

1 day ago

Rich Homie Quan’s death: 911 call from girlfriend reveals chilling last moments

Amber Williams, the distraught girlfriend of late rapper Rich Homie Quan, made a frantic 911…

1 day ago

‘I had a whole lease’: Family of 8 left to sleep in their cars after falling prey to rental scam

Bennecia Smith and her family were looking forward to settling down in their recently purchased…

1 day ago