 Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the arrival of the official party and remain standing for the advancing of the colors and singing of the National Anthem by Petty Officer Kristen Pageant. Please be seated. A special welcome to Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the 30th Chief of Naval Operations, and Admiral Howard's husband Wayne, mother Philippa, sister Lisa, brother-in-law David, sister-in-law Tracy, and Tracy's husband Sanjay. Vice Admiral Howard will now say a few words. Secretary Mavis, CNO, good morning, distinguished guest and distinguished guest this morning. They're unmentioned and probably deserve to have here. So in the spirit of inclusiveness, I'd like to know are there any undistinguished guests this morning? Raise your hand. Thank you also for coming today, the musician first class pageant for that one. Mr. Secretary, thank you for hosting today's ceremony. You honor me with your time. I did want to give you some feedback over this last year and I've talked to sailors and they're from everywhere, from hot coffee Mississippi or New York City or California. They appreciate your leadership. So thank you for taking care of our sailors and Marines. Ladies and gentlemen, this morning it is my duty and honor to introduce the 30th Chief of Naval Operations. Admiral Jonathan Greenert is from Butler, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Annapolis in 1975. He's commanded several times and is a recipient of the Vice Admiral Stockdale Leadership Award for inspirational leadership. As the 30th Chief of Naval Operations, he has refocused our Navy to core tenants. War fighting first. Operate forward. I would say, we're Liberty Dwells, there is my country. Admiral Greenert would say, we're Liberty Dwells, there is the United States Navy. Ladies and gentlemen, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Okay, Michelle, we're going to have to, I suck up to the Secretary. Just remember that. I mean, that's where we are. Because as Benjamin Franklin said. Lisa Mike, I mean, I know you say, well, I saw this years ago running around the house. I don't know. I can tell you, in that little town of Butler, they all said, are you kidding me? So we'll see what you say. But honestly, Secretary Mavis, thanks obviously for joining us today. I am extremely proud and excited to be here. Because, well, Michelle has put in a tremendous career. 32 years. Mainstream at sea, tough tours. Very difficult tours. Michelle came up through the amphibious expeditionary warfare arena and came into town and did the hard jobs that needed to be done. And so she is definitely ready to assume this position. There's no question in my mind there. Weeks to rescue. And those kinds of things where Michelle saw an opportunity and she grabbed it and she performed well. So that's kind of all said and done. She will bear the burden of a role model. And she is ready to bear that very well. And I'm very excited about that. My first saw Michelle up close when she was actually the military assistant for the Secretary of the Navy. And those of us kind of standing around the water cooler, flag officers said, we've got something pretty special here. After that, John Harvey asked her to do a study for us. We were having some real issues down on the fleet. And we needed to get to the bottom line, readiness issues, what ways you get, what you expect. And this officer understands that very clearly. So I am very, very, very excited to have her join me. Terrific day. Great support. The wardrooms here. They're ready to listen and to lead from there on out. Diversity and definitely inclusion. That position where we have women in submarines. And that was kind of a hurdle, if you will, or a milestone, which we weren't sure how this was really going to work out. It was pretty darn different from all the others. And it's worked very smoothly under Secretary Mabus' leadership. He's been an naval officer, so he knows our culture. He knows what we're about. Go back and Google it and check out the beard. It's really awesome. But seriously, he has been Governor of the State of Mississippi and he brought that state forward in tremendous ways. He's been an auditor general, so he's helped us in that regard. And he was the ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during a very, very difficult time. On top of all that, check the ship numbers. And you see very, very tangible evidence. And listening to him and understanding him, he's a father and he takes that very seriously. A seriously dedicated husband. And he's just a good and decent man. So please join me in welcoming our 75th Secretary of the Navy. Welcome, everyone, and I'm honored to be here. Thank you so much, Michelle Howard, for asking me to host this and allowing me to participate in it. I have to say that I'm a little bit torn over what to say. I've been thinking about this, and so I'm going to start out in one direction, but this is, as you all know, an historic day. It's the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, its passage and signing anniversary of Freedom Summer, witnesses to history. I'm calling Michelle Howard as Jonathan Greenert's only vice. This is not my promise. I certainly don't want to make light of today and of Michelle Howard's many, many to attend the Naval Academy. The first African-American woman to act that she was first put on a subtender when I was in the Navy was the only ship that women could serve aboard, but persisted as a very junior. BXO to be a CNO mention, the rescue of Captain Phillips. Some actress that should have been you, because in fact she is a representation she has helped bring us. She and so many, so many others to this day. Some of those that she has listed as role models, Lieutenant Commander Wesley Brown, first African-American graduate of Annapolis, Inc., Francis Wills, first African-American off the U.S. Navy. Also a great example of Chris since I'm the father. The analogy on the other side of this story is two years ago at RIMPAC, the biggest naval exercise in the world, beginning again. We sent 400,000 gallons of biofuel to demonstrate something called the Great Green Fleet. When I was talking to the press, I said the big news here is there is no news. We put that biofuel in our normal logistics chain, took it out, refueled at sea refueled in the air refueled, every type of aircraft and every type of surface ship that was in that strike group. And the ships and the engines didn't notice the difference. It went exactly as the CNO said, women in submarines, women on riverines, make decisions based on anything for success. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the delivery of appointment. Information on purpose and prevention. On which I'm about to execute. Execute the office of public return. Vice Admiral Howard to assume the rank of personnel to Admiral Michelle J. Howard, USN. Subject, appointed United States, has appointed you as an Admiral in the United States Navy while serving as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Signed D.L. Dillon Snyder, Director of Flag Officer Distribution. Secretary Mabus will now present the rank of my distinct pleasure to present you Admiral Michelle J. Howard. A sign of leadership to be persistent in your goals and to achieve them. The first act will be by his first name. Good morning, CNO. Today's ceremony. Who was the most important to this event? My list just kept growing and growing and growing. And then prioritizing the list was challenging. The top of the list was a tie. I must start by thanking Rourad Mouyun and Rob Bianchi. Today was the first four-star shoulder boards for women they didn't exist. A special contract was let and you folks are seeing the first set in the history of the United States Navy. I'm going to let you work that whole quality control thing. And next come. I also have shipmates from SEED and from the Pentagon. I'm Wagner Meredith, Jacob Wyman Wyman. I want to mention you all by name. Who's in a chair? Had something to do with me standing up here. I do want to recognize my fellow naval attaches, though. This last year, you have helped me succeed. You've prepared us when the Sienos traveled. You've prepared me when I've traveled. You've been the wonderful interlocutors with your leaders. And I'm very proud to have served with you in the Beltway, just as when we meet up at sea and I've served with many of the navies of your nations. I'm so very proud to serve with you at sea. So thank you for all of those who represent your countries today for joining us for this event. It is fitting on today, having just sworn an oath to the Constitution, and it is July 1st to talk about the American Revolution. Britain and the colonies had been in a state of war for almost a year when Richard Lee, a delegate from Virginia in June of 1776, moved that these United Colonies are, and of right, is a defining American characteristic, decisive words. It's also enshrined in our American heritage. We formed a committee. It was Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. The Committee of Five was to draft the reasons for independence and put them on paper. Thomas Jefferson was the chief writer, and his true sacrifice is that he willingly endured the editing of his fellow committee members because the final document was cut by 25% from the original, but the words that stayed in 1776, on July 1st in 1776, the Second Continental Congress leaves resolution to declare independence with the unanimous vote, enthusiasm. This declaration in support and defend these states coming day's transaction. In addition to decisive words and action, volunteerism is the core of the United States' personal character and our national identity. Step up and contribute to a noble cause in your life is a sign of true selflessness. Our sailors and marines are this legacy. They are volunteers, and with every mission, they demonstrate our core values. Values our founders would have understood, decisive words and serve with them goes to the today's USS, the United States Sailor. Today's ceremony and sharing in this special event. This concludes the official ceremony. Please remain in place until the departure of the official party. After the departure, please proceed directly to the reception in the foyer. The official party will arrive to cut the cake in 15 minutes. Admiral Howard will receive you as you depart the memorial.