Michele Lowe

About Michele Lowe

Michele Lowe graduated from the University of Florida in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and received her commission as a surface warfare officer through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. She holds a Master of Science in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Arts in international relations from St. Mary's University, and she maintains proficiency in French.

Lowe served onboard two destroyers, USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) as the navigator and training officer, and USS Preble (DDG 88) as the operations officer. She also served on three staffs: Destroyer Squadron 14 as the assistant operations officer, Destroyer Squadron Seven as the operations officer, and Expeditionary Strike Group Three as the future operations officer. Over the course of nearly ten years at sea, Lowe deployed twice to the Seventh Fleet area of operations, participated in exercise Baltic Ops in 2002, conducted two UNITAS exercises in South America from 2003- 2004, participated exercise Rim of the Pacific in 2009, responded to tsunami relief efforts during Operation Tomadachi in 2011, and planned and executed the first Marine Expeditionary Force at-sea exercise Dawn Blitz in 2013.

In 2011, Lowe transferred into the foreign area officer career field and joined US Embassy Accra, Ghana as the deputy chief and maritime programs officer in the Office of Security Assistance in 2012. She next served at US Africa Command Headquarters staff in the strategy, engagement, and programs directorate from 2015. In 2018, Commander Lowe joined US Embassy Yaounde, Cameroon as the defense attaché/senior defense official, regionally accredited to Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic. While there, she completed a rigorous tour of duty as the Ambassadors' military advisor, shaping foreign policy decisions and leading US strategy across three challenging countries for three different US Ambassadors.

Lowe's military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (fourth award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal (second award).