Nigerian, Kelechi Ndukwe promoted to Navy Captain, becomes first Nigerian to command U.S. Warship

A Nigerian-American Kelechi Ndukwe has been promoted to the rank of Navy Captain.

Earlier in his career, he served as the fire control officer aboard the USS Normandy in Norfolk from 2004 to 2006 and as the auxiliaries officer on the USS Thorn, also in Norfolk, from 2003 to 2004.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Ndukwe has also worked in the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), the highest-ranking military position in the United States.

In 2021, Kelechi Ndukwe assumed command of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Before succeeding DeVere J. Crooks, who had led the ship since November 2019, Ndukwe served as the executive officer.

The USS Halsey (DDG-97) is not Ndukwe’s first command. From 2013 to 2015, the chemical engineering graduate was the commanding officer of the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a minesweeper based in Bahrain

The new position marks the pinnacle of his more than 20-year career in the US Navy, which began in 2003 as an auxiliaries officer. This was a year after he earned a master’s degree in national security and strategy studies from the US Naval War College.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on her X handle on Friday, congratulated Kelechi Ndukwe on his new position.

She said, “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 #Proud#ProudlyNigerian.”

Meanwhile, Segun Victor Agunbiade, an officer in the US Navy, confirmed Ndukwe’s promotion on his social media handle on Thursday.

Agunbiade wrote, “Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the newest US Navy Captain, Kelechi Ndukwe. He is the first Nigerian to command a US Navy warship! Congratulations on your promotion, Captain! Well deserved!!!”