On Tuesday, the Navy promoted Michelle Howard from vice admiral to admiral, making her the Navy’s first female four-star admiral. As a result of the promotion, Howard is also the new chief of naval operations.
Howard gave thanks with a tribute to service members at her promotion ceremony that was held at the Women in Military Service for American Memorial, at Arlington National Cemetery. She said that the “willingness to step up and contribute to a noble cause in your life is a sign of true selflessness.”
Howard is best known for commanding the strike force that coordinated the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips when he was captured by Somali pirates. The 2013 film, Captain Phillips, based on the true story, starred Tom Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982, Howard was the first Black woman to command a ship, Rushmore, in 1999.
Despite her historic accomplishments, skepticism has followed Howard. In 2013, a Navy report found that one of her peers told others that he believed Howard’s promotion to vice admiral was sped up because of her race and gender, and she “may not have had to cross as many hurdles in the same fashion to get where she was at.”
However, in an interview with the Navy Times, retired Rear Adm. Sonny Masso said, “Do I think she’s a token female, a token African-American, or anything like that? I would say absolutely and emphatically not.” He added, “[With] her performance and critical jobs across the spectrum … she has brought an extraordinary amount of experience that is equal to any of her peers.”