Navy first 4-star female American Admiral

SFC A.M. Drake — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 17:53:42 -0400

Vice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard added Tuesday to the long list of firsts in her naval career — first female four-star Admiral in the 238-year history of the Navy.

“There’s no news here today,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus joked in promoting Howard to admiral. The Navy had simply “picked the best officer to be the VCNO,” or Vice Chief of Naval Operations and No. 2 officer in the Navy, Mabus said.

“Her accomplishment is a direct example of a Navy that now, more than ever, reflects the nation it serves,” Mabus said at the promotion ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

“She is also a great example of how much we as a nation and a Navy lose if we put artificial barriers in,” Mabus said.

In her remarks, Howard said that in preparing for the promotion ceremony she was told that “four-star shoulder boards for women didn’t exist.”

The Army and the Air Force have previously promoted women to four-star rank. The first female four-star, Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody, retired in 2012.

Howard was also the first African-American woman to rise to three-star rank in the active-duty military.

The 54-year-old Howard, a 32-year Navy veteran, currently is the Deputy CNO for Operations, Plans, and Strategy. She will replace Adm. Mark Ferguson III as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO).

Ferguson is scheduled later this month to relieve Adm. Bruce Clingan as commander, Allied Joint Force Command, Naples, and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

Howard graduated from the Naval Academy in 1982 and became the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship in 1999 when she came aboard the dock landing ship Rushmore.

In April 2009, she commanded Task Force 151, a multi-national counter-piracy effort off the Horn of Africa.

Three days after coming aboard her flagship, the amphibious assault ship Boxer, Somali pirates attacked the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama and captured its top officer, Capt. Richard Phillips.

Howard helped devise a plan to rescue Phillips and dispatched the destroyer Bainbridge to assist. Navy SEAL snipers were brought aboard the Bainbridge and later opened fire on a small lifeboat carrying Phillips and three pirates, killing the pirates and freeing Phillips.

Howard later told “Power Players,” an outlet of ABC News and Yahoo News, that “we found out that the life raft was heading to the Somali coast, so very quickly the focus of the mission became — don’t let the life raft touch land.”

“We wanted to bring Capt. Phillips back safely to the U.S., but we figured out that if that life raft got ashore before we could rescue him, that would probably be the last we’d see of him,” Howard said.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 6:01 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:01:42 -0400

She earned every star - probably 3 to 4 times before she was awarded each star. BZ Admiral Howard!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 8:25 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:25:28 -0400

I'm hoping to get stars sometime soon. I guess in the meanwhile I'll start earning stars here on Rally point ;-)

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2014 5:45 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:45:38 -0400

Note that her command was an amphib - that's one hell of a rough CO tour. Mad props to the Admiral.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2014 5:03 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 05:03:49 -0400

And she drives a slightly jacked up extended cab Ford F-150. She is very down to Earth.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 25 at 2014 5:08 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 05:08:00 -0400

RESPECT!

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Dec 4 at 2014 9:27 AM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:27:46 -0500

SFC Drake,

Thank you for posting this. This is OUTSTANDING!

Response by CSM Tee Oden made Dec 5 at 2014 10:30 AM

CSM Tee Oden — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 10:30:54 -0500

Outstanding! For all who have had the pleasure of meeting Admiral Howard prior to becoming a Flag Officer will surely agree the Navy has selected the best choice for the job. Congratulations!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 6 at 2014 12:44 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 00:44:36 -0500

Badass!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2014 1:03 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 01:03:26 -0500

Who cares? An awesome sailor earned their fourth star, and all other details not directly relating to her professional merits are irrelevant.

Response by SPC Richard White made Dec 6 at 2014 5:58 AM

SPC Richard White — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 05:58:57 -0500

Much respect

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 11:56 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:56:00 -0500

Talent management at its finest.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 10:01 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:01:49 -0500

Great read, thanks for sharing.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 8:36 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 08:36:36 -0500

Outstanding! Fine example of leadership that breaks free of boundaries and restrictions. Great story.