Nigerian-American Kelechi Ndukwe has made history as the first Nigerian to command a US Navy warship. Ndukwe, who was recently promoted to the rank of Navy Captain from Commander, now holds a prestigious role at the pinnacle of his over 20-year career in the US
Sharing the news on his official X, a US Army Officer, Victor Agunbiade congratulated Ndukwe on his achievement.
Sharing pictures from the promotion ceremony, Ogunbiade wrote; “Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the newest US Navy Captain Kelechi Ndukwe. The first Nigerian to have a command of the US Navy War Ship! Congratulations on your promotion Captain! Well deserved.”Reacting to the news on X, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, congratulated Ndukwe on his achievement.
“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.”
As the first Nigerian-American to command the ship, the new role is the zenith of his over 20-year career in the US navy, which started with him working as an auxiliaries officer in 2003, a year after obtaining a master’s degree in national security and strategy studies from the US Naval War College.
In 2021, Kelechi took over as the commanding officer of USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Before he took over from DeVere J. Crooks who had commanded the ship since November 2019, he had been serving as the second-in-command.
The USS Halsey (DDG 97) is not the first US navy ship Ndukwe will be commanding. From 2013 to 2015, the graduate of chemical engineering was the commanding officer for the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a minesweeper based in Bahrain. Ndukwe has served in multiple warships in various parts of the world including the Mediterranean Sea, Horn of Africa, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific Ocean.
Author: Seyi Awoleye
Los-Angeles, USA
seyiawoleye@yahoo.com
