Ret. Captain Janet Days

History does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it takes shape through steady leadership, groundbreaking firsts, and the courage to step into spaces where no one expected you to belong. Captain Janet H. Days, USN (Ret.), has spent her life doing exactly that.

From becoming the first African American Commanding Officer of Naval Station Norfolk in its 108-year history to being only the third African American woman in U.S. Navy history to command a ballistic missile defense-capable destroyer, Captain Days has consistently opened doors where few imagined Black women could lead.

But her legacy extends far beyond rank and title.

After nearly four decades of military service, Captain Days continues to shape the future as Director of Economic Development for the City of Suffolk, leading efforts focused on business growth, workforce development, tourism, entrepreneurship, and community investment.
Her leadership has never been about simply occupying rooms. It has been about expanding them.

Captain Days represents a kind of innovation rooted in courage, excellence, discipline, and service, proving that leadership at the highest levels can also create pathways for those coming behind you.