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Past Speakers

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Who's Sharing Ideas
Keynote Speakers

Admiral Michelle Howard, U.S. Navy

Vice Chief of Naval Operations

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Admiral Michelle Howard is the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She has served for over 33 years, during which time she became the first African American woman to command a ship, the USS Rushmore, in the U.S. Navy. Admiral Howard's previous assignments include commander of TF 151; a multi-national counter-piracy effort, deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans & Strategy. Admiral Howard is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the General Staff College.

Vice Admiral Mike LeFever, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Senior Advisor, McChrystal Group

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Vice Admiral (retired) Mike LeFever is a Senior Adviser at the McChrystal Group, a leadership and management firm founded by General Stan McChrystal, where he serves as a mentor and advisor working with senior executives across multi-national companies on leadership, strategy, and change management issues. Vice Admiral LeFever served in the Navy for 38 years, including as Director of Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center.

Vice Admiral Melvin Williams, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Associate Provost for Military and Veteran Affairs, GW

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Vice Admiral (retired) Melvin G. Williams, Jr. currently serves as the Associate Provost for Military and Veterans Affairs at the George Washington University. Most recently, Vice Admiral Williams served as the Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy. Vice Admiral Williams served 33 years as a submarine officer in the Navy, including as Commander of U.S. Second Fleet and Commander of Submarine Group Nine. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Catholic University of America, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

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