Adm. Michelle J. Howard of the US Navy Delivers MLK Celebration Keynote Lecture

As part of its annual celebration(opens in new window) honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Carnegie Mellon University welcomed Adm. Michelle J. Howard, who delivered an inspiring lecture that highlighted her distinguished 35-year career in the U.S. Navy through the lens of King’s sacrifices.

Provost James H. Garrett Jr.(opens in new window), introduced Howard as a pioneering leader who has redefined excellence and broken barriers throughout her remarkable career. Her message encouraged everyone to strive for excellence and to break barriers in their own lives.

“Adm. Howard is not just a distinguished naval officer. She is a trailblazer who has reshaped the landscape of military leadership,” Garrett said.

Howard was the first woman to reach the rank of four-star admiral and the first to serve as vice chief of Naval Operations, the Navy’s second-highest rank. She made history as the first African-American woman to attain both three-star and four-star ranks across any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as the first African-American woman to command a Navy ship.

Throughout her career, she led critical military operations, including NATO peacekeeping, Desert Storm and the 2009 rescue of Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates, later depicted in the film “Captain Phillips.” 

In her talk, she emphasized the importance of building teams that are courageous, diverse and resilient, drawing parallels between her own journey and King's legacy of equality and justice. 

“When you have people with different types of attributes, they have to actually work at communication to really understand each other,” Howard said. “But they also end up being more collaborative. One of the most delightful things for me is this idea of innovation. Diverse teams tend to be more innovative. You need different perspectives when ideas collide. When you have different perspectives colliding, that's when you get to multiple options, multiple answers and something that's viable.”

Howard’s lecture was followed by a question and answer session moderated by Wanda Heading-Grant(opens in new window), vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, who introduced the evening's program.

Jackson Haywood, a sophomore in the School of Drama, performed a stirring rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” that brought the packed Rangos Ballroom to its feet for a standing ovation.

In Garrett’s opening remarks, he referred to King as a visionary leader who transformed the nation through his unwavering commitment to justice, equality and human dignity. 

“His work was not just a movement but a profound moral calling that challenged everyone to confront the deep-seated inequities in our society and imagine a more just world,” Garrett said. 

“As an academic community, we have a responsibility to carry Dr. King’s legacy forward. Our mission is not only to acquire knowledge but to use that knowledge as a force for positive change.”