Michelle Howard
After becoming the first African American woman to serve as a three-star officer in the U.S. military and command a U.S. Navy ship, Howard made history again in July of this year when she was promoted from vice admiral to admiral, making her the first female four-star admiral and first African American to hold that position.
Her outstanding accomplishments have earned her major recognition, including a 2013 Chairman’s Award recipient at the NAACP Image Awards.