U.S. Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, vice chief of naval operations at the Pentagon, has been nominated to serve as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and the Allied Joint Forces Command in Italy.
The Defense Department said  Thursday Howard will also be reappointed to the rank of admiral.
Howard previously served onboard USS Mount Hood as chief engineer, USS Flint as first lieutenant and USS Tortuga as executive officer.
She has also supported operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Joint Endeavor.
Her command tours include stints with USS Rushmore, Amphibious Squadron Seven, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Task Force 151’s multinational counter-piracy effort and Task Force 51’s expeditionary forces.
Howard also served as executive assistant to the Joint Staff director of operations and a deputy director at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
Navy Vice Adm. Bill Moran, chief of naval personnel, has been nominated to the vice chief of naval operations role at the Pentagon to succeed Howard if her nomination gets approval.
