American Legion Post 36 Commander David Patch, CDR/USN (Ret), is proud to announce that Rear Adm. Hugh W. Howard III is this year’s Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day parades in the Boothbay region.

“I am honored to be in Maine this solemn weekend, as Americans across the country honor their courageous military men and women who throughout history have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Howard in a statement to the newspaper. “As we reflect on the countless acts of valor of those who have died in service to our great nation, may we be inspired to live our lives in a manner worthy of their sacrifice.”

Rear Adm. Hugh W. Howard III is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He is a 1990 graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor of science in international relations, and was a member on the Navy crew rowing team.

Howard is a SEAL naval officer who is currently the prospective commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. He recently commanded Special Operations Command Central, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida from 2018 to 2020 following assignment as assistant commander, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 2016 - 2018.

Howard has commanded at all levels of Special Operations, including service as commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group, from 2011-2013. He has multiple tours in command of joint task forces, and was among the first to deploy into Afghanistan following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and has deployed consistently since.

His joint interagency staff and policy experience includes director of operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Springfield, Virginia from 2015 - 2016. He also served as the deputy director for Global Operations, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Washington, District of Columbia and as director for Counterterrorism Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

His professional military education includes the Naval War College, Joint Special Operations University, and the Defense Language Institute. Howard is a graduate of Naval Special Warfare’s assessment, selection and training course (Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL Class 172).

He holds a master of science in national security and resource strategy with a focus on space, and where he earned three Eisenhower School Commandant’s awards for excellence in writing from the Eisenhower School. He also holds a Global Executive MBA from TRIUM, jointly conferred by the London School of Economics and Political Science, HEC Paris School of Management, and New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Howard’s awards include the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars with Combat Distinguishing Device, six Defense Superior Service Medals, three Legions of Merit, the Navy Combat Actions Ribbon, five Presidential Unit Citations, and four Joint Meritorious Unit Awards.

He is an active volunteer within the community, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an Eagle Scout and a member of the American Legion, Charles E. Sherman Jr, Post 36 in Boothbay, Maine.

“Rear Admiral Howard was vacationing here last summer and attended one of the Post’s breakfasts,” said Patch. “That’s when I recruited him to be our parade grand marshal.”