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US Gets First Female Four-Star Admiral


Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, left, puts four-star shoulder boards on Admiral Michelle Howard's uniform during her promotion ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Arlington, Virginia, July 1, 2014.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, left, puts four-star shoulder boards on Admiral Michelle Howard's uniform during her promotion ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, Arlington, Virginia, July 1, 2014.

The U.S. Navy has named its first female four-star admiral, the highest rank achievable in the service.

Michelle Howard was promoted Tuesday at a ceremony at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, near the Pentagon.

She will serve as the vice chief of naval operations, the second-highest admiral in the Navy behind General Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations.

In 1999, Howard became the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship.

Howard has served 32 years in the Navy since graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982.

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