Nigerian-American naval officer, Kelechi Ndukwe, has achieved another historic milestone with his promotion to Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 60 and Commander of Task Force 65, headquartered in Rota, Spain.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria celebrated his achievement, highlighting his remarkable rise within the U.S. Navy. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the mission commended Ndukwe’s trailblazing journey—from becoming the first Nigerian-American to command a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Halsey, to now leading Destroyer Squadron 60 and Task Force 65.
The post read:
“Meet Commodore Kelechi Ndukwe, a Nigerian-American making history in the @USNavy! From commanding the USS Halsey as the first Nigerian-American to lead a guided-missile destroyer to now serving as Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 60 & Task Force 65 in Spain, his journey is pure inspiration and a true example of #AmericanExcellence!”
Ndukwe first came to wider public attention in April 2021 when he assumed command of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), marking a historic first for Nigerian-Americans in the U.S. Navy.
Throughout his distinguished career, he has served on several naval vessels, including the USS Devastator, and has held multiple senior leadership positions both at sea and within the Navy’s personnel command structure.
0 Comments