Kelechi Ndukwe, a Nigerian-American, has been promoted to the rank of Navy Captain from Commander in the U.S. Navy.
Ndukwe made history as the first Nigerian to command a US Navy warship, a watershed moment in his over 20-year career.
His naval journey began in 2003 as an auxiliaries officer, shortly after obtaining a master’s degree in national security and strategy studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
In 2021, Ndukwe became the commanding officer of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, succeeding DeVere J. Crooks. Prior to this, he served as the ship’s second-in-command.
This promotion is not Ndukwe’s first leadership role in the U.S. Navy. From 2013 to 2015, he commanded the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a minesweeper based in Bahrain.
Throughout his career, Ndukwe has served on various warships around the world, including in the Mediterranean Sea, Horn of Africa, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific Ocean.
Confirming his promotion, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), extended her congratulations, saying, “A hearty congratulations to Navy Captain Kelechi R Ndukwe who has been promoted to the rank of Navy Captain from Commander, in the US NAVY. He is the first Nigerian American to command a US warship. #ProudlyNigerian.”
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