Michael P. Howard Chief Operating Officer, Army and Air Force Exchange Service

Michael Howard is the President/Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange). As President/COO, he directs overall operation of the Exchange by supervising the Operations Group and staff elements that directly support all Exchange activities. Headquartered in Dallas, the Exchange is the No. 57 retail organization in the U.S. with annual revenue of $8.5 billion, employing about 35,000 associates, including a small contingent of military. The Exchange operates department and convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, theaters, vending and other businesses on military installations in all 50 states, five U.S. territories and 33 countries.

Mr. Howard graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance in 1976. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman's University, Denton, in 2008. He has also attended the Executive Continuing Education Programs at the University of Chicago and at Darden University in Charlottesville, Va.

A native of St. Louis, Mr. Howard began his career as a part-time worker at Lowry Air Force Base Exchange, Colo., in 1972. After graduating from college, he served as a Supervisory Accounting Technician for Central Area; Operations Manager at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; and Sales and Merchandise Manager at McChord. From there, he became Sales and Merchandise Manager at the Hanau Exchange, Frankfurt, Germany. Next, he was promoted to Assistant Main Store Manager at the Frankfurt Exchange. Mr. Howard then became the Main Store Manager at March Air Force Base, Calif.; then Main Store Manager at McChord; General Manager in Colorado Springs, Colo. and Area Manager for the Columbia Area.

Mr. Howard came to the Exchange headquarters in 2003 as the Vice President of Real Estate; later he was the Project Retek Director. He served as the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and assumed the Chief Operating Officer position in 2006. He was named President/COO in July 2014.

Mr. Howard has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, most recently including the Champion of Diversity Award in April 2012 from the Texas Diversity Council and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Logistics Association in October 2012.