Nigerian-American Kelechi Ndukwe has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to attain the rank of US Navy Captain.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission boss Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the revelation in a post on her X account.

“A hearty congratulations to Navy Captain Kelechi R. Ndukwe, who has been promoted to the rank of Navy Captain from Commander in the US. He is the first Nigerian American to command a US warship. #ProudlyNigerian,” Erewa’s post said.

In a US Navy career that has spanned over 20 years, Kelechi Ndukwe joined the navy in 2003 as an auxiliary officer after obtaining a master’s degree in National Security and Strategy Studies from the US Naval War College in 2002.

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Kelechi was put in command of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, in 2021. He had been serving as the second-in-command to DeVere J. Crooks, who had held the position since 2019.

Prior to taking charge of the USS Halsey in 2021, the Nigerian had commanded the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a Bahrain-based minesweeper from 2013-2015. He also served in multiple warships in different parts of the globe, such as the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf, Horn of Africa, and the Western Pacific Ocean.

Kelechi also served in the capacity of weapons officer and combat systems officer of the USS Fitzgerald in Japan’s Yokosuka from June 2010 to December 2011. He also worked as a congressional liaison officer in Washington, DC, from 2006 to 2008, among others.