Philip Gardner Howe III is a retired United States Navy vice admiral and Navy SEAL. His assignment prior to retirement in 2019 was associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency. He previously served as the 55th President of the Naval War College, and was the first SEAL officer to hold this assignment. Prior to that, Howe was the Commander, Special Operations Command Pacific.

P. Gardner Howe III
Howe in 2016
Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency
In office
4 October 2016 – 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
55th President of the Naval War College
In office
8 July 2014 – 25 July 2016
Preceded byWalter E. Carter Jr.
Succeeded byJeffrey A. Harley
Personal details
Born1962 (age 61–62)
Jacksonville, Florida
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1984–2019
Rank Vice admiral
Commands
Battles / wars

Military career

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Howe was a commissioned as an Ensign following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. Howe then received orders to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. After six months of training, Howe graduated with BUD/S class 131 in February 1985. Following SEAL Tactical Training and completion of six month probationary period, he received the 1130 designator as a Naval Special Warfare Officer, entitled to wear the Special Warfare insignia. He has held many positions within the Naval Special Warfare and Joint Special Operations Command JSOC communities. Howe has commanded Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE (NSWU-3) in Bahrain, Naval Special Warfare Group 3 in San Diego, and Special Operations Command Pacific. His overseas deployments have been in support of Operations Earnest Will, Provide Promise, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom as well as others across Asia and the western Pacific region.[1]

Howe's major joint and staff assignments include current operations officer at Special Operations Command Pacific; chief staff officer, Naval Special Warfare Development Group; assistant chief of staff for Operations, Plans and Policy at Naval Special Warfare Command; director of Legislative Affairs for Special Operations Command; and assistant commanding officer, operations Joint Special Operations Command.[1] Howe most recently served as the Commander, Special Operations Command Pacific from 2013 to 2014.

On 8 July 2014, Howe became the 55th President of the Naval War College.[2][3] Howe became associate director for military affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency on 4 October 2016.[4] Howe retired to Newport, RI at the end of 2019 and currently serves on the Navy SEAL Foundation board of advisors.[5]

Education

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Howe is a 1984 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995 with a Master of Arts in national security affairs, and from the National War College in 2002 with a Master of Arts in national security.[1] Howe enrolled as a student at the International Yacht Restoration School of Technology and Trades in Newport, RI for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Awards and decorations

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Military awards and badges

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Ribbon Description Notes
  Navy Distinguished Service Medal
  Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three gold award stars
Bronze Star Medal with one award star
  Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  Meritorious Service Medal
  Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one award star
  Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze service stars
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon with one service star
  Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
  Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Armed Forces Service Medal
  Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and one bronze service stars
Navy Overseas Service Ribbon with one bronze star
  Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
  Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Badge Description
  Navy Special Warfare Insignia
  Naval Parachutist Insignia
  Command at Sea insignia

Other awards

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  • Service Member Defense of Freedom Award[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "REAR ADMIRAL P. GARDNER HOWE, III PRESIDENT U.S. NAVAL WAR COLLEGE". United States Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. ^ Church, Lindsay (8 July 2014). "First SEAL Takes Helm as Naval War College President". U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. ^ Elliot, Ezra J. (25 July 2016). "New president takes helm at U.S. Naval War College". U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Rear Admiral P. Gardner Howe III". United States Navy. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  5. ^ "WE ARE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO SHARE THAT VICE ADMIRAL P. GARDNER HOWE, III, USN, RET. HAS JOINED THE NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION BOARD OF ADVISORS". Navy Seal Foundation. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ Jackson, Alex (14 January 2013). "Two flag officers, former USNA mids making career moves". CapitalGazette.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
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Military offices
Preceded by 55th President of the Naval War College
2014 – 2016
Succeeded by