Rear Admiral Duvall M. Williams, Jr. were ousted for their attempts to turn the Tailhook investigation into a whitewash, but, in a move that drew surprise, O'Keefe announced that he continued to have "complete confidence" in Under Secretary Howard saying that he was much more "sinned against than sinned." As such, Howard served out the rest of the Bush administration and left office on January 20, 1993. Howard retired from the Foreign Service in June, 1993 with the rank of Minister-Counselor and received the Meritorious Honor Award for career achievements. References External links White House Press Release on Howard's Nomination as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) White House Press Release on Howard's Nomination as Under Secretary of the Navy 1943 births Living people United States Marines University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumni University of Tennessee alumni United States Foreign Service personnel George H. W. Bush administration personnel American press secretaries United States Assistant Secretaries of Defense United States Under Secretaries of the Navy