Danelle Barrett

Danelle Barrett (born July 20, 1967) is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. She is one of less than 200 women in history to achieve the US Naval rank of admiral.

Early life, education, personal life
Barrett was born on July 20, 1967 in Buffalo, New York. She has three brothers.

Barrett attended Boston University, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She earned a Masters of Arts in Management, National Security/Strategic Studies, and Human Resources Development. Barrett also graduated with a Master of Science in Information Management. She is married and has one daughter.

On June 10, 2020, Barrett was elected to the Board of Directors for KVH Industries. She currently serves on the Board of Progressive Insurance, ShoulderUp, Protego Trust Bank, and Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. She has also served as an extra in several movies and tv shows.

In 2023, Barrett was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. Since then, she has become an advocate for experimental treatments and care. She has focused her online presence on the importance of mentorship and her carpe diem life philosophy.

Military career
Barrett received her commission as an ensign from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps in a ceremony aboard the USS Constitution. She served tours at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, and served as commander of the 2nd Fleet, Carrier Strike Group Two, and Multinational Forces-Iraq. She also served tours at the Carrier Strike Group 12, which included deployments in support of the Afghanistan-focused Operation Enduring Freedom and the Haiti-focused Unified Response mission. She has worked at the Standing Joint Force Headquarters United States Pacific Command. She also worked as the deputy director of current operations at the U.S. Cyber Command.

Barrett’s shore assignments included tours at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Stations in Cecil Field, Puerto Rico, and Jacksonville, Florida. Barrett also served as the senior Navy fellow at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, and as the Allied Commander Atlantic Systems Support Center at the Norfolk Naval Personnel Command. She served as the Chief of Naval Operations Task Force Web. The US Navy assigned her as the commanding officer of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic, and later as the chief of staff of the Navy Information Forces Command.

Prior to retiring from the US Navy, Barrett served as the director of the US Navy Cyber Security Division.

Honors

 * Defense Superior Service Medal
 * Copernicus Awards - 1998, 2000, 2005
 * Naval Institute Command, Control, Computers and Communication writing award
 * Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Award - first place individual category - 2006
 * Federal 100 winner - 2010
 * Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Women in Leadership Award - 2014
 * Women in Technology Leadership Award - 2017

Writing
In June 2021, Barrett published, “Rock the Boat: Encourage Innovation, Lead Change and Be a Successful Leader.” It has been on the Amazon Best Seller list in several categories. Barrett has also authored and published 35 articles.