The Federal Government has hailed a Nigerian-American, Kelechi Ndukwe, on his promotion to a Captain in the United States of America Navy and his emergence as the Commanding Officer of USS Halsey (DDG-97) missile destroyer.
The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, issued the congratulatory message on Friday.
In a statement issued on her behalf by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa described the promotion as well deserved going by Ndukwe’s doggedness, resilience and dedication to duty in the US Navy.
She applauded him for being the first Nigerian to take over as the Commanding Officer of USS Halsey (DDG-97) missile destroyer.
The NiDCOM boss said that this feat could only have been achieved through so much dedication and hard work, which she described as the Nigerian spirit.
She prayed for a successful tenure and protection in his new assignment for Ndukwe.
According to the Foundation for Defence Democracies, Ndukwe has served in multiple warships in various parts of the world, including Mediterranean Sea, Horn of Africa, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific Ocean.
His new role as the first Nigerian-American to command the ship has led him to the zenith of his 18-year career in the US Navy, which started with him working as an auxiliary officer in 2003, a year after obtaining a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategy Studies from the US Naval War College.
