Rear Admiral P Gardner Howe, III

Rear Adm. Howe is a native of Jacksonville, Fla.  He was commissioned in 1984 following his graduation from the United States Naval Academy.

Howe’s operational assignments have included a full range of duties in SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Teams and SEAL Teams. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Unit Three in Bahrain, and Naval Special Warfare Group Three in San Diego. His service overseas includes multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf, and participation in Operations Earnest Will, Provide Promise, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

His key staff assignments include current operations officer at Special Operations Command, Pacific; chief staff officer, Naval Special Warfare Development Group; assistant chief of staff for Operations, Plans and Policy at Naval Special Warfare Command; and director of Legislative Affairs for U.S. Special Operations Command. He assumed duties as assistant commanding officer, Joint Special Operations Command in August 2010.

Howe graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995 with a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict), and from the National War College in 2002 with a Master of Arts in National Security.