Michelle Howard

Last updated

Michelle Howard
Admiral Michelle J. Howard VCNO.jpg
Born (1960-04-30) April 30, 1960 (age 63)
March Air Force Base, California, U.S.
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Service/branchFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Years of service1982–2017
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]

Contents

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]

Early life and education

Howard was born at March Air Force Base in California, the daughter of United States Air Force master sergeant Nick Howard, and his wife, Phillipa. Howard is a 1978 graduate of Gateway High School in Aurora, Colorado. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in 1982 and from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1998 with a Master of Military Art and Science.

Howard meeting with U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS Fort McHenry in July 2009 090707-N-5345W-103 - RADM Michelle Howard, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, visits with junior enlisted sailors during a visit to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43).jpg
Howard meeting with U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS Fort McHenry in July 2009
Howard gives a speech at the New York Mercantile Exchange in June 2010, during Fleet Week. USN RADM Michelle J. Howard in The View.jpg
Howard gives a speech at the New York Mercantile Exchange in June 2010, during Fleet Week.

Howard's initial sea tours were aboard USS Hunley and USS Lexington. While serving on board USS Lexington, she received the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins award in May 1987. This award is given to one woman officer a year for outstanding leadership. She reported to USS Mount Hood as Chief Engineer in 1990 and served in the Gulf War, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She assumed duties as First Lieutenant on board USS Flint in July 1992. In January 1996, she became the Executive Officer of USS Tortuga and deployed to the Adriatic in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, a peacekeeping effort in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. Sixty days after returning from the Mediterranean deployment, Tortuga departed on a West African Training Cruise, where the ship's sailors, with embarked U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard detachment, operated with the naval services of seven African nations.

Howard assumed command of USS Rushmore on March 12, 1999, becoming the first African-American woman to command a ship in the United States Navy. Howard commanded Amphibious Squadron 7 from May 2004 to September 2005. Deploying with Expeditionary Strike Group 5, operations included tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and maritime security operations in the North Persian Gulf.

Howard addressing the crew of USS Wasp in December 2009 US Navy 091222-N-2564M-106 Rear Adm. Michelle Howard commends the crew of USS Wasp (LHD 1) during ship's return to Norfolk.jpg
Howard addressing the crew of USS Wasp in December 2009

Howard's shore assignments include: Course Coordinator/Instructor for the Steam Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) course; Action Officer and Navy's liaison to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Military Services (DACOWITS) in the Bureau of Personnel; Action Officer J-3, Global Operations, Readiness on the Joint Staff from 2001–2003; Executive Assistant to the Joint Staff Director of Operations from February 2003 to February 2004; and Deputy Director N3 on the OPNAV Staff from December 2005 to July 2006.

Howard was the Deputy Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division, OPNAV staff from July 2006 to December 2006, and senior military assistant to the secretary of the Navy January 2007 – January 2009. She was chief of staff to the director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff from August 2010 until July 2012. [3] From August 2012 to July 2013 she was Deputy Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

Howard assumed command of Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in April 2009. Boxer was the flagship for CTF 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. She played a key role in the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, whose kidnapping by Somali pirates became a major motion picture film. [10]

Howard was promoted to rear admiral (lower half), effective September 1, 2007 and to rear admiral, effective August 1, 2010. She was promoted to vice admiral on August 24, 2012.

On July 1, 2014, Howard was promoted to admiral. She became the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations the same day. [11]

Dates of ranks

Promotions
RankDate
US Navy O7 infobox.svg   Rear admiral (lower half) September 1, 2007
US Navy O8 infobox.svg   Rear admiral August 1, 2010
US Navy O9 infobox.svg   Vice admiral August 24, 2012
US Navy O10 infobox.svg   Admiral July 1, 2014 [5]

Career after retiring from the Navy

After Howard retired from the Navy on December 1, 2017, she became the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University, teaching cybersecurity and international policy. [12] IBM announced that it appointed Howard to its board, effective March 1, 2019. [13]

In November 2020, Howard was named a volunteer member of the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to the Defense Department. [14] On February 12, 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin appointed Howard as one of four Departmental 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. [8] She was sworn in as the commission's chair on March 2, 2021. [9]

Awards and decorations

Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg
Surface Warfare Officer Insignia.png
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Bronze-service-star-3d.svg
Operational Distinguishing Device.png
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg
Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
Navy CaS.png
Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ 1 gold award star
Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit w/ 2 award stars Meritorious Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 3 award stars Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 2 oak leaf clusters
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 3 bronze service stars Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with "O" device
National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 silver service star National Order of the Legion of Honour (Knight) (France)
NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Command at Sea insignia
Allied Joint Force Command Naples

Howard is the recipient of the 2008 Women of Color Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Career Achievement Award, 2009 Dominion Power Strong Men and Women Excellence in Leadership Award, [15] and the 2011 USO Military Woman of the Year. [16]

On February 1, 2013, Howard was honored with the "Chairman's Award" at the 44th NAACP Image Awards. [16] She is a 1987 recipient of the Secretary of the Navy/Navy League Captain Winifred Collins Award.

On June 13, 2015, Howard was awarded the Doctor of Public Service honorary degree from the American Public University System for her many years of service in the United States Navy, her contribution to the advancement of women in the United States Military, and to her continued service to the people of the United States and around the world.

On May 22, 2021, Howard was the speaker for the commencement ceremonies at Fordham University, where she received an honorary doctorate of humane letters for her achievements and leadership in the U.S. armed forces . [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Fleet Forces Command</span> Service component command of the United States Navy

The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFF) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of the Secretary of Defense. Originally formed as United States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906, it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Sixth Fleet</span> Numbered fleet of the United States Navy

The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in 2011 is that it "conducts the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions, in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties, in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa." The current commander of the Sixth Fleet is Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Second Fleet</span> Numbered fleet of the United States Navy

The United States Second Fleet is a numbered fleet in the United States Navy responsible for the East Coast and North Atlantic Ocean. The Fleet was established following World War II. In September 2011, Second Fleet was deactivated in view of the United States Government's perception that the potential military threat posed by Russia had diminished. On 4 May 2018, Admiral John M. Richardson, the Chief of Naval Operations, announced plans to reestablish Second Fleet amid heightened tensions between NATO and Russia. It was reestablished on 24 August 2018, with Vice Admiral Andrew "Woody" Lewis in command.

USS <i>Stout</i>

USS Stout (DDG-55) is the fifth Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Built for the United States Navy by Ingalls Shipbuilding, she was commissioned on 13 August 1994 and she is currently home-ported in Naval Station Norfolk. She is part of Destroyer Squadron 26. Stout is named for Rear Admiral Herald F. Stout, who distinguished himself as the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Claxton during World War II. In November 1943, Commander Stout received two Navy Crosses in the span of three weeks for his actions in the Pacific. Stout aided Destroyer Squadron 23 in sinking five heavily armed Japanese warships and damaging four others during the Solomon Islands campaign as well as sinking four more Japanese warships and damaging two others to establish a beachhead on Bougainville Island. Stout was ordered on 13 December 1988, the keel was laid down on 8 August 1991, she was launched on 16 October 1992 and commissioned on 13 August 1994. As of July 2020 the ship is part of Destroyer Squadron 26 based out of Naval Station Norfolk. As of 2023 the Commanding Officer is Cmdr. Desmond Walker, MBA, RBLP-T.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene Parks Wilkinson</span>

Eugene Parks "Dennis" Wilkinson was a United States Navy officer. He was selected for three historic command assignments. The first, in 1954, was as the first commanding officer of USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. The second was as the first commanding officer of USS Long Beach, America's first nuclear surface ship. The third was in 1980 when he was chosen as the first President and CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) from which he retired in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Naval Forces Central Command</span> Service component command of the United States Navy

United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is the United States Navy element of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). Its area of responsibility includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. It consists of the United States Fifth Fleet and several other subordinate task forces, including Combined Task Force 150, Combined Task Force 158 and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command</span> Flag appointment in the United States Navy

Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF/COMFLTFORCOM) is the title of the United States Navy officer who serves as the commanding officer of the United States Fleet Forces Command. The U.S. Fleet Forces Command was originally established in 1905 as the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and as a two-star rear admiral's billet; the position has been held by a four-star admiral since March 10, 1915. The 45th, and current, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command is Admiral Daryl L. Caudle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah Loewer</span>

Deborah A. Loewer is a retired American naval officer. She was the first warfare-qualified woman promoted to flag rank in the United States Navy. She was frocked to the rank of rear admiral on October 1, 2003 and retired in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in the United States Navy</span>

Many women have served in the United States Navy for over a century. As of 2020, there were 69,629 total women on active duty in the US Navy, with 11,076 serving as officers, and 58,553 enlisted. Of all the branches in the US military, the Navy has the second highest percentage of female active duty service members with women making up 20% of the US Navy in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John C. Harvey Jr.</span>

John Collins Harvey Jr. is a former United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 31st Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command from July 24, 2009 to September 14, 2012. He previously served as Director, Navy Staff (N09B) from March 24, 2008 to July 23, 2009. Prior to that, he served as the 54th Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (N1) from November 2005 to April 2008. He retired from the navy after more than 39 years of service.

Hispanics in the United States Navy can trace their tradition of naval military service to men such as Lieutenant Jordi Farragut Mesquida, who served in the American Revolution. Hispanics, such as Seaman Philip Bazaar and Seaman John Ortega, have distinguished themselves in combat and have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration of the United States. Hispanics have also reached the top ranks of the navy, serving their country in sensitive leadership positions on domestic and foreign shores. Among those who have reached the highest ranks in the navy are Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy, of Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewish descent, who participated in the War of 1812 as an assistant Sailing master; Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, for whom the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy was created during the American Civil War; and Admiral Horacio Rivero, who led the navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol M. Pottenger</span> United States Navy vice admiral

Carol M. Pottenger is a retired United States Navy flag officer. She was among the first women to be assigned to serve at sea in 1978, the first female admiral to command a major combat organization, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet/Expeditionary Strike Group Seven, encompassing the amphibious forces assigned to the western Pacific; and the first female admiral to lead a combatant force "type command", Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, charged with the manning, training and equipping of over 40,000 expeditionary sailors in preparation for combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as global security assistance operations. Her final naval post was with NATO as deputy chief of staff for capability and development at Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia, the first female officer to hold this position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nora W. Tyson</span>

Nora Wingfield Tyson is a retired United States Navy vice admiral. In 2015, she was installed as commander of the Third Fleet, making her the first woman to lead a United States Navy ship fleet. She retired from service in 2017. Tyson previously served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group Two, from July 29, 2010 to January 12, 2012; she was the first female commander of a United States Navy Carrier Strike Group. She then served as Vice Director of the Joint Staff beginning in February 2012. In July 2013 she was promoted to vice admiral and named as Deputy Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard L. Austin</span> United States Navy Vice Admiral

Bernard Lige Austin was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. His career included service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War and command of submarines and surface ship forces, during which he became a distinguished combat commander of destroyers. He also commanded the United States Second Fleet, held numerous diplomatic, educational, and administrative staff positions, and a served a lengthy tour of duty as President of the Naval War College.

This article lists events involving women in warfare and the military in the United States from 2000 until 2010. For 2011 onward, please see Timeline of women in warfare and the military in the United States from 2011–present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary M. Jackson</span> American vice admiral

Mary Marcella Jackson is a retired United States Navy officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Franchetti</span> American Navy admiral

Lisa Marie Franchetti is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the 42nd vice chief of naval operations since 2 September 2022, and as acting chief of naval operations (CNO) since 14 August 2023. She is also the nominee to become CNO in her own right in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daryl Caudle</span> U.S. Navy admiral

Daryl Lane Caudle is a United States Navy admiral who is the 35th commander of United States Fleet Forces Command since December 7, 2021. He most recently served as commander of Naval Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR), Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT) and Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC). As COMSUBFOR, he was the undersea domain lead, and is responsible for the submarine force's strategic vision. As COMSUBLANT, he commanded all Atlantic-based U.S. submarines, their crews and supporting shore activities. These responsibilities also include duties as commander, Task Force (CTF) 114, CTF 88, and CTF 46. As commander, Allied Submarine Command, he was the principal undersea warfare advisor to all North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) strategic commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray Tynch III</span> Retired U.S. Navy admiral

Murray Joe Tynch III is a retired United States Navy rear admiral and naval aviator who last served as the commander of Task Force 73 and Logistics Group Western Pacific and dual-hatted as the Singapore Area Coordinator from June 12, 2018 to July 26, 2021. As CTF 73/CLWP, he provides the United States Seventh Fleet with combat-ready logistics and maintains and operates government-owned ships and operating government-contracted vessels to sustain combatant ships and units throughout Seventh Fleet's area of operations.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Vice Admiral Michelle Howard. United States Navy.

  1. 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.
  2. "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.
  3. 1 2 "US Navy Biography – Michelle Howard". US Navy. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  4. "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.
  5. 1 2 "Flag Officer Announcements". Defense.gov. May 4, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  6. 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.
  7. Bahrampour, Tara (September 17, 2014). "Meet the Highest-Ranking Woman in U.S. Naval History". Glamour. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Department's Representatives to the Congressionally-Mandated Commission on the Naming of Items in the Department of Defense That Commemorate the Confederate States of America". U.S. Department of Defense. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Lundquist, Edward (June 10, 2021). "Commission Examines Assets that Honor the Confederacy, Will Suggest Name Changes" . Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  10. Devan Coffaro (April 18, 2016). "First African American woman to command Navy ship in Mobile". Fox News wtvm. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  11. "US Navy promotes first woman to four-star admiral". Washington DC News.Net. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  12. Feiner, Lauren (February 26, 2019). "IBM just appointed the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship to its board". Yahoo! Finance . Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  13. Feiner, Lauren (February 26, 2019). "IBM just appointed the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship to its board". CNBC . Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  14. "Agency Review Teams". President-Elect Joe Biden. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  15. "2009 Honorees". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Chairman's Award". NAACP. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  17. "Commencement 2021". Fordham University. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.

Further reading

Military offices
Preceded by Deputy Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy
2013–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of Naval Operations
2014–2016
Succeeded by
Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa
2016–2017
Political offices
New office Chair of The Naming Commission
2021–present
Incumbent