President Biden Appoints Admiral Michelle J. Howard to The Board of Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy
15 Feb 2022
U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.) and APB speaker Michelle J. Howard was recently appointed to The Board of Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy. President Joe Biden announced her appointment to this key role last week. The duty of The Board is to inquire into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the academy that the Board decides to consider. The President receives an annual written report of the Board’s findings and recommendations.
A groundbreaking leader during her 35-year career in the Navy, Howard was the first woman to achieve the rank of four-star admiral and the first woman to be appointed to the position of vice chief of naval operations (the second-highest rank in the Navy). She was also the first African-American woman to reach the rank of three-star and four-star in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the first African-American woman to command a ship in the Navy. A veteran of operations that included NATO peacekeeping, Indonesia tsunami relief, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, she was thrust into the international spotlight in 2009 as leader of the counter-piracy task force that rescued civilian Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates. The rescue was later depicted in the film Captain Phillips.
One of our most sought-after speakers, Admiral Howard instantly connects with audiences with warmth and humor. Her keynotes address leadership, cybersecurity, diversity, innovation and teambuilding. Bringing empowering insights as someone who spent her career shattering glass ceilings, breaking new ground, and leading teams of all types, she continues to inform, inspire, and motivate.