ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp announced Colonel Deborah Howell as the replacement of soon-to-be retired Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands National Guard, Ronaldo Rivera.
The announcement came at a press conference the governor held on Thursday to address yesterday’s action by the senate, denying 11 of the governor’s cabinet nominees a motion to reconsider, hence sending the process back to beginning. The governor renominated the 11 cabinet members yesterday.
Col. Howell, Mapp said, will be the first female adjutant general in the territory, and first African American female adjutant general. She will replace Adj. Gen. Rivera this summer.
Mapp said Col. Howell’s nomination would be forwarded to the 31st Legislature on Thursday, along with the Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau, “so the National Guard Bureau process can begin, and that we have a smooth and orderly transition from one adjutant general to the next,” Mapp said.
Col. Howell has vast experience in the military and has held many prestigious positions, including executive assistant to the Adjutant General, director of Information Systems, chief of the Joint Staff, the assistant U.S. property and fiscal officer, the director of logistics, the National Guard Bureau logistics officer and other revered positions.
Correction: June 3, 2015
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Colonel Howell, once appointed, will be the first female in the U.S. to hold the office of Adjutant General. Col. Howell will be the first female in the territory and first African American female, but not the first female in the U.S. The story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
Feature Image: Colonel Deborah Howell
Image Credit: Government of the Virgin Islands
Tags: deborah howell, us virgin islands deborah howell, vi national guard
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