# Hugh W. Howard

Hugh W. Howard III is a retired United States Navy rear admiral who commanded the United States Naval Special Warfare Command from September 11, 2020 until August 19, 2022. He was previously the Commander of Special Operations Command Central from July 19, 2018, to July 20, 2020.

## Military career

Howard graduated from the Naval Academy in 1990 and received a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. He volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and graduated with BUD/S class 172 in February 1991. His first operational assignment was with SEAL Team EIGHT at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. Following SEAL Tactical Training (STT) 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 also known as "SEAL Trident". In 1998, Howard volunteered for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (commonly known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six), in Dam Neck, Virginia and completed a specialized selection and training course. He then served with the command as troop commander, squadron operations officer until 2003 during which time he planned, rehearsed and operated during classified exercises and operations. Howard served with JSOC as operations officer in 2005. Howard later returned to DEVGRU in 2006 as squadron commander of Red Squadron till 2009. At DEVGRU he also held numerous leadership positions including squadron operations officer, deputy commanding officer and commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 2011–2013. Howard earned a Master of Arts degree at the Naval War College in 2010. He recently commanded Special Operations Command Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from 2018 to 2020 following assignment as assistant commander, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 2016 to 2018. Howard’s awards include the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars with Combat Distinguishing Device, six Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legions of Merit, the Navy Combat Actions Ribbon, five Presidential Unit Citations, and four Joint Meritorious Unit Awards.

## Controversy

In November of 2021, journalist Matthew Cole published Code Over Country: The Tragedy and Corruption of SEAL Team 6. Cole reported that Howard failed the selection for DEVGRU, known as "green team". His OIC persuaded the selection cadre to relax the standards for Howard. Howard was then sent to Red Squadron of DEVGRU where he was later fired. He returned to Red Squadron later in his career as the commanding officer.
Cole reported that Howard and Master Chief Jimmy Lindell would use donors to pay for custom hatchets. Howard would gift these to operators within Red Squadron of DEVGRU after a year of their service in the squadron. These hatchets were used to mutilate the bodies of fallen enemy combatants.
Howard was described by peers as highly ambitious and lacking humility. He believed that the officers of Red Squadron were the greatest officers in the US military and should become "the next senators and presidents". He claimed he would become the first SEAL officer to become the President of the United States.

## Awards and decorations

| Badge | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia | SEAL Insignia |
| 1st Row | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 silver oak leaf cluster | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 silver oak leaf cluster | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 silver oak leaf cluster |
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit w/ 2 awards stars | Legion of Merit w/ 2 awards stars | Bronze Star Medal w/ 3 award stars and combat V | Bronze Star Medal w/ 3 award stars and combat V | Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster | Defense Meritorious Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster |
| 3rd Row | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal |
| 4th Row | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 4 award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 4 award stars | Combat Action Ribbon w/ 1 award star | Combat Action Ribbon w/ 1 award star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 4 bronze service stars | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 4 bronze service stars |
| 5th Row | Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters | Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze service star | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze service star |
| 6th Row | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 1 bronze service star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 1 bronze service star |
| 7th Row | Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 bronze service star | Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 bronze service star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| 8th Row | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 4 service stars | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 4 service stars | Coast Guard Special Operations Service ribbon | Coast Guard Special Operations Service ribbon |
| 9th row | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia | Rifle Marksmanship Medal | Rifle Marksmanship Medal | Pistol Marksmanship Medal | Pistol Marksmanship Medal |
| Badge | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia | Naval Parachutist insignia |
| Badge | Command-at-Sea Insignia | Command-at-Sea Insignia | Command-at-Sea Insignia | Command-at-Sea Insignia | Command-at-Sea Insignia | Command-at-Sea Insignia |
| Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |