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List of United States Navy four-star admirals

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The rank of admiral (or full admiral, or four-star admiral) is the highest rank normally achievable in the United States Navy. It ranks above vice admiral (three-star admiral) and below fleet admiral (five-star admiral).

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four-star admiral

There have been 283 four-star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. Of these, 242 achieved that rank while on active duty, 40 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations, and one was promoted posthumously. Admirals entered the Navy via several paths: 238 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 28 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), nine via Officer Candidate School (OCS), two via warrant, two via Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), one via direct commission (direct), one via the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program, and one via the U.S. Merchant Marine.

List of admirals

Entries in the following list of four-star admirals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the admiral's name, date of rank,[1] active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank,[2] number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs),[3] year commissioned and source of commission,[4] number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC),[5] and other biographical notes.[6]

More information #, Name ...
# Name Photo Date of rank[1] Position[2] Yrs[3] Commission[4] YC[5] Notes[6]
1David G. Farragut 25 Jul 1866   4 1810 (warrant)56(1801–1870) Brother-by-adoption of Navy four-star admiral David D. Porter Jr.
2David D. Porter Jr. 15 Aug 1870  
  • Admiral of the Navy, 1870–1891.
  • Head, Board of Inspection, 1877–1891.
 21 1829 (warrant)41(1813–1891) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1865–1869. Brother-by-adoption of Navy four-star admiral David G. Farragut.
3George Dewey 2 Mar 1899   18 1858 (USNA)41(1837–1917) Promoted to admiral, 8 Mar 1899 but was promoted to Admiral of the Navy, 24 Mar 1903, with retroactive date of rank 2 Mar 1899. Candidate for Democratic Party nomination for U.S. President, 1900.
4Frank F. Fletcher 10 Mar 1915   2 1875 (USNA)40(1855–1928)[7] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Frank J. Fletcher.
5Thomas B. Howard 11 Mar 1915   1 1873 (USNA)42(1854–1920)[7] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Observatory, 1917–1919.
6Walter C. Cowles 12 Mar 1915   1 1873 (USNA)42(1853–1917)[7]
7Albert G. Winterhalter 9 Jul 1915   2 1877 (USNA)38(1856–1920)[7]
8Cameron M. Winslow 13 Sep 1915   1 1875 (USNA)40(1854–1932)[7]
9Henry T. Mayo 19 Jun 1916   3 1876 (USNA)41(1857–1937)[7][8] Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1924–1928.
10William B. Caperton 28 Jul 1916   3 1875 (USNA)41(1855–1941)[7][8] Special Representative of the President in Brazil, 1918.
11William S. Benson 29 Aug 1916   3 1877 (USNA)[9]39(1855–1932)[7][8] Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Shipping Board, 1919–1928.
12Austin M. Knight 4 Apr 1917   1 1873 (USNA)[9]44(1854–1927)[7] President, Naval War College, 1913–1917. Brother of Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes.
13William S. Sims 4 Dec 1918   2 1880 (USNA)[9]38(1858–1936)[7][8] President, Naval War College, 1917; 1919–1922. Awarded Pulitzer Prize for History, 1921.
14Henry B. Wilson Jr. 30 Jun 1919   2 1881 (USNA)[9]38(1861–1954)[7][8] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1921–1925. Father-in-law of U.S. Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley.
15Hugh Rodman 1 Jul 1919   2 1880 (USNA)[9]39(1859–1940)[7][8] U.S. Minister and Envoy to Peru, 1921.
16Albert Gleaves 1 Sep 1919   2 1877 (USNA)[9]42(1858–1937)[7][8] Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928–1931.
17Robert E. Coontz 1 Nov 1919   6 1885 (USNA)[9]34(1864–1935)[7][8] Governor of Guam, 1912–1913.
18Joseph Strauss 4 Feb 1921   1 1885 (USNA)[9]36(1861–1948)[7][8]
19Hilary P. Jones 30 Jun 1921   2 1884 (USNA)[9]37(1865–1939)[7][8]
20Edward W. Eberle 5 Jul 1921   6 1885 (USNA)[9]36(1864–1929)[7] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1915–1919.
21Edwin A. Anderson 28 Aug 1922   1 1882 (USNA)[9]40(1860–1933)[7] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914.
22Samuel S. Robison 30 Jun 1923   3 1888 (USNA)[9]35(1867–1952)[7][10] Military Governor of Santo Domingo, 1921–1922; Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1928–1931; Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1931–1948. Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Charles F. Hughes.
23Thomas Washington 11 Oct 1923   2 1887 (USNA)[9]36(1865–1954)[7][10] Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1931–1937.
24Charles F. Hughes 14 Oct 1925   5 1888 (USNA)[9]37(1866–1934)[7] Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Samuel S. Robison; daughter married brother of Navy five-star admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
25Clarence S. Williams 14 Oct 1925   2 1884 (USNA)[9]41(1863–1951)[7][10] President, Naval War College, 1922–1925.
26Richard H. Jackson 4 Sep 1926   1 1887 (USNA)[9]39(1866–1971)[7][10] Distant cousin of Air Force four-star general Charles P. Cabell.
27Henry A. Wiley 8 Sep 1927  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1927–1929.
 2 1888 (USNA)[9]39(1867–1943)[7] Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Maritime Commission, 1936–1940.
28Mark L. Bristol 9 Sep 1927   2 1887 (USNA)[9]40(1868–1939)[7] U.S. High Commissioner, Turkey, 1919–1927.
29Louis R. de Steiguer 10 Sep 1927   1 1889 (USNA)[9]38(1867–1947)[7][10]
30William V. Pratt 26 Jun 1928   5 1889 (USNA)[9]39(1869–1957)[7][11] President, Naval War College, 1925–1927.
31Louis M. Nulton 21 May 1929   1 1889 (USNA)[9]40(1869–1954)[7][10] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1925–1928.
32Charles B. McVay Jr. 9 Sep 1929   2 1890 (USNA)[9]39(1868–1949)[7][10]
33Frank H. Schofield 24 May 1930   2 1890 (USNA)[9]40(1869–1942)[7]
34Jehu V. Chase 17 Sep 1930  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1930–1931.
 1 1890 (USNA)[9]40(1869–1937)[7] Great-grandfather of Navy four-star admiral James F. Caldwell Jr.
35Montgomery M. Taylor 1 Sep 1931   2 1890 (USNA)[9]41(1869–1952)[7][10] Grandnephew of U.S. President Zachary Taylor; distant cousin of Army four-star general Montgomery C. Meigs.
36Richard H. Leigh 15 Sep 1931  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1931–1932.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1932–1933.
 2 1891 (USNA)[9]40(1870–1946)[7][10]
37Luke McNamee 11 Aug 1932  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1932–1933.
 1 1892 (USNA)[9]40(1871–1952)[7][10] Governor of Guam, 1907; Director of Naval Intelligence, 1921–1923; President, Naval War College, 1933–1934.
38William H. Standley 20 May 1933   4 1895 (USNA)[9]38(1872–1963)[7][11][12] U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1942–1943.
39David F. Sellers 10 Jun 1933  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1933–1934.
 1 1894 (USNA)[9]39(1874–1949)[7][10] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1934–1938.
40Joseph M. Reeves 1 Jul 1933  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933–1934.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1934–1936.
 3 1894 (USNA)[9]39(1872–1948)[7][10][13]
41Frank B. Upham 18 Aug 1933   2 1893 (USNA)[9]40(1872–1939)[7] Married aunt of Navy four-star admiral Robert B. Carney.
42Frank H. Brumby 15 Jun 1934  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1934–1935.
 1 1895 (USNA)[9]39(1874–1950)[7][10]
43Harris Laning 1 Apr 1935  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1935–1936.
 1 1895 (USNA)[9]40(1873–1941)[7] President, Naval War College, 1930–1933; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1937–1941.
44Orin G. Murfin 4 Oct 1935   1 1897 (USNA)[9]38(1876–1956)[7][10]
45William D. Leahy 30 Mar 1936   5 1897 (USNA)[9]39(1875–1959)[14] Promoted to fleet admiral, 15 Dec 1944. Governor of Puerto Rico, 1939–1940; U.S. Ambassador to France, 1941–1942. Wife's niece married Navy four-star admiral David W. Bagley.
46Arthur J. Hepburn 24 Jun 1936  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1936–1938.
 2 1897 (USNA)[9]39(1877–1964)[7][10]
47Harry E. Yarnell 30 Oct 1936   3 1897 (USNA)[9]39(1875–1959)[7][10][15]
48Claude C. Bloch 2 Jan 1937  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1937–1938.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1938–1940.
 3 1899 (USNA)[9]38(1878–1967)[7][16]
49Edward C. Kalbfus 29 Jan 1938  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1938–1939.
 1 1899 (USNA)[9]39(1877–1954)[7][10] President, Naval War College, 1934–1936; 1939–1942.
50James O. Richardson 24 Jun 1939  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1939–1940.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1940–1941.
 2 1902 (USNA)[9]37(1878–1974)[7][16] Relieved, 1941.
51Thomas C. Hart 25 Jul 1939   3 1897 (USNA)[9]42(1877–1971)[17] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1931–1934; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1945–1946.
52Harold R. Stark 1 Aug 1939   6 1903 (USNA)[9]36(1880–1972)
53Charles P. Snyder 6 Jan 1940  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1940–1941.
 1 1900 (USNA)[9]40(1879–1964)[7][16] President, Naval War College, 1937–1939.
54Husband E. Kimmel 1 Feb 1941   0 1904 (USNA)[9]37(1882–1968)[7] Relieved, 1941. Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid.
55Ernest J. King 1 Feb 1941   3 1901 (USNA)[9]40(1878–1956) Promoted to fleet admiral, 17 Dec 1944. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1946. Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Frederic H. Smith Jr.
56Chester W. Nimitz 31 Dec 1941   3 1905 (USNA)[9]36(1885–1966) Promoted to fleet admiral, 19 Dec 1944. Brother married daughter of Navy four-star admiral Charles F. Hughes.
57Royal E. Ingersoll 1 Jul 1942   3 1905 (USNA)[9]37(1883–1976)
58William F. Halsey Jr. 18 Nov 1942   2 1904 (USNA)[9]38(1882–1959) Promoted to fleet admiral, 4 Dec 1945.
59Raymond A. Spruance 16 Feb 1944   4 1906 (USNA)[9]38(1886–1969) U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1952–1955.
60Jonas H. Ingram 15 Nov 1944   2 1909 (USNA)[9]35(1886–1952) Commissioner, All-America Football Conference, 1947–1949. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914.
61Frederick J. Horne 15 Dec 1944   1 1899 (USNA)[9]45(1880–1959)
62Richard S. Edwards Jr. 3 Apr 1945   2 1907 (USNA)[9]38(1885–1956)
63H. Kent Hewitt 3 Apr 1945   4 1907 (USNA)[9]38(1887–1972)
64Thomas C. Kinkaid 3 Apr 1945   5 1908 (USNA)[9]37(1888–1972) Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Husband E. Kimmel.
65Richmond K. Turner 24 May 1945   2 1908 (USNA)[9]37(1885–1961)
66Samuel M. Robinson 27 Aug 1945   1 1903 (USNA)[9]42(1882–1972) Administrator, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1946–1951. First staff corps officer to attain rank of admiral.
*John S. McCain Sr. 6 Sep 1945  
  • (posthumous)
 0 1906 (USNA)[9]39(1884–1945) Father of Navy four-star admiral John S. McCain Jr.; grandfather of U.S. Senator John S. McCain III.
67John H. Towers 7 Nov 1945   2 1906 (USNA)[9]39(1885–1955)
68DeWitt C. Ramsey 28 Dec 1945   4 1912 (USNA)33(1888–1961)
69Louis E. Denfeld 7 Jan 1946   2 1912 (USNA)34(1891–1972)[18] Candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, 1950. Relieved, 1949.
70Charles M. Cooke Jr. 8 Jan 1946   2 1910 (USNA)[9]36(1886–1970)
71Marc A. Mitscher 1 Mar 1946   1 1910 (USNA)[9]36(1887–1947) Died in office.
72Ben Moreell 11 Jun 1946   0 1917 (direct)29(1892–1978)
73Richard L. Conolly 23 Sep 1946   4 1914 (USNA)32(1892–1962)[19] President, Naval War College, 1950–1953; President, Long Island University, 1953–1962.
74William H.P. Blandy 3 Feb 1947   3 1913 (USNA)34(1890–1954)
75Arthur W. Radford 7 Apr 1949   8 1916 (USNA)33(1896–1973) Married aunt of Army four-star general Michael S. Davison.
76Forrest P. Sherman 2 Nov 1949   2 1917 (USNA)32(1896–1951) Died in office.
77William M. Fechteler 1 Feb 1950   6 1916 (USNA)34(1896–1967)
78Robert B. Carney 2 Oct 1950   5 1916 (USNA)34(1895–1990) Aunt married Navy four-star admiral Frank B. Upham.
79Lynde D. McCormick 22 Dec 1950   4 1915 (USNA)35(1895–1956)[20] President, Naval War College, 1954–1956.
80Donald B. Duncan 9 Aug 1951   5 1917 (USNA)34(1896–1975) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1957–1962. Brother-in-law of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Harry L. Hopkins.
81Felix B. Stump 27 Jun 1953   5 1917 (USNA)36(1894–1972)
82Jerauld Wright 6 Apr 1954   6 1917 (USNA)37(1898–1995) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1963–1965.
83John H. Cassady 7 Apr 1954   2 1918 (USNA)36(1896–1969)
84Arleigh A. Burke 6 Jun 1955   6 1923 (USNA)32(1901–1996) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1977.
85Robert P. Briscoe 30 Apr 1956   3 1918 (USNA)38(1897–1968)
86Walter F. Boone 1 May 1956   4 1920 (USNA)36(1898–1995) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1954–1956; Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1962–1968.
87Harry D. Felt 1 Sep 1956   8 1923 (USNA)33(1902–1992)
88Maurice E. Curts 29 Apr 1957   1 1919 (USNA)38(1898–1976)[19]
89James L. Holloway Jr. 1 Jan 1958   1 1918 (USNA)40(1898–1984) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1947–1950; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1962–1966. Father of Navy four-star admiral James L. Holloway III.
90Herbert G. Hopwood 1 Feb 1958   2 1919 (USNA)39(1898–1966)
91James S. Russell 21 Jul 1958   7 1926 (USNA)32(1903–1996)
92Charles R. Brown 1 Jan 1959   2 1921 (USNA)38(1899–1983)
93Robert L. Dennison 1 Feb 1959   4 1923 (USNA)36(1901–1980)
94Harold Page Smith 1 Feb 1960   5 1924 (USNA)36(1904–1993) Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr.
95John H. Sides 1 Mar 1960   3 1925 (USNA)35(1904–1978)
96George W. Anderson Jr. 1 Aug 1961   2 1927 (USNA)34(1906–1992) U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, 1963–1966.
97Claude V. Ricketts 1 Nov 1961   3 1929 (USNA)32(1906–1964) Died in office.
98David L. McDonald 1 Apr 1963   4 1928 (USNA)35(1906–1997)
99Charles D. Griffin 26 Jun 1963   5 1927 (USNA)36(1906–1996)
100U.S. Grant Sharp Jr. 27 Sep 1963   5 1927 (USNA)36(1906–2001) Great-aunt married U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.
101Thomas H. Moorer 26 Jun 1964   10 1933 (USNA)31(1912–2004)
102Horacio Rivero Jr. 31 Jul 1964   8 1931 (USNA)33(1910–2000) U.S. Ambassador to Spain, 1972–1974.
103John S. Thach 25 Mar 1965   2 1927 (USNA)38(1905–1981)
104Alfred G. Ward 27 Mar 1965   3 1932 (USNA)33(1909–1982)
105Roy L. Johnson 31 Mar 1965   2 1929 (USNA)36(1906–1999)
106John S. McCain Jr. 1 May 1967   5 1931 (USNA)36(1911–1981) Son of Navy four-star admiral John S. McCain Sr.; father of U.S. Senator John S. McCain III.
107Ignatius J. Galantin 19 May 1967   3 1933 (USNA)34(1910–2004)
108Ephraim P. Holmes 17 Jun 1967   3 1930 (USNA)37(1908–1997)
109John J. Hyland Jr. 1 Dec 1967   3 1934 (USNA)33(1912–1998)
110Bernard A. Clarey 17 Jan 1968   5 1934 (USNA)34(1912–1996)
111Waldemar F.A. Wendt 12 Jul 1968   3 1933 (USNA)35(1912–1997)
112Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. 1 Jul 1970   4 1942 (USNA)28(1920–2000) Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1976. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1998.
113Charles K. Duncan 1 Sep 1970   2 1933 (USNA)37(1911–1994)
114Jackson D. Arnold 14 Oct 1970   1 1934 (USNA)36(1912–2007) First restricted line officer to attain rank of admiral.
115Ralph W. Cousins 1970-10-3030 Oct 1970   5 1937 (USNA)33(1915–2009)
116William F. Bringle 1 Jul 1971   2 1937 (USNA)34(1913–1999)
117Isaac C. Kidd Jr. 1 Dec 1971   7 1942 (USNA)29(1919–1999)
118Richard G. Colbert 1 Jun 1972   1 1937 (USNA)35(1915–1973) President, Naval War College, 1968–1971.
119Noel A.M. Gayler 1 Sep 1972   4 1935 (USNA)37(1914–2011) Director, National Security Agency, 1969–1972.
120Maurice F. Weisner 1 Sep 1972   7 1941 (USNA)31(1917–2006)
121James L. Holloway III 1 Sep 1973   5 1942 (USNA)31(1922–2019) Son of Navy four-star admiral James L. Holloway Jr.
122Worth H. Bagley 1 Sep 1973   2 1947 (USNA)26(1924–2016) Son of Navy four-star admiral David W. Bagley; brother of Navy four-star admiral David H. Bagley; great-aunt married Navy five-star admiral William D. Leahy; great-aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.
123Hyman G. Rickover 16 Nov 1973   9 1922 (USNA)51(1900–1986)[21] Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1980; Congressional Gold Medal, 1958 and 1982.
124Means Johnston Jr. 25 Nov 1973   2 1939 (USNA)34(1916–1989)
125Harold E. Shear 24 May 1974   6 1942 (USNA)32(1918–1999) Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, 1981–1985.
126John P. Weinel 2 Aug 1974   3 1939 (USNA)35(1916–2004)
127Frederick H. Michaelis 19 Apr 1975   3 1940 (USNA)35(1917–1992)
128David H. Bagley 21 May 1975   2 1943 (USNA)32(1920–1992) Son of Navy four-star admiral David W. Bagley; brother of Navy four-star admiral Worth H. Bagley; great-aunt married Navy five-star admiral William D. Leahy; great-aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels.
129Stansfield Turner 1 Sep 1975   4 1946 (USNA)29(1923–2018) President, Naval War College, 1972–1974.
130Daniel J. Murphy 28 May 1976  
  • Deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence for the Intelligence Community (D/DCI/IC), 1976–1977.
 1 1943 (OCS)33(1922–2001) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1977–1981; Chief of Staff to the U.S. Vice President, 1981–1985.
131Thomas B. Hayward 12 Aug 1976   6 1947 (USNA)29(1924–2022)
132Robert L. J. Long 5 Jul 1977   6 1943 (USNA)34(1920–2002)
133Donald C. Davis 9 May 1978   3 1943 (USNA)35(1921–1998)
134Alfred J. Whittle Jr. 1 Aug 1978   3 1945 (USNA)33(1924–1993)
135Harry D. Train II 1 Oct 1978   4 1949 (USNA)29(1927–2026)
136James D. Watkins 18 Sep 1979   7 1949 (USNA)30(1927–2012) Chairman, Watkins Commission, 1987–1988; U.S. Secretary of Energy, 1989–1993.
137William J. Crowe Jr. 30 May 1980   9 1947 (USNA)33(1925–2007) Chairman, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, 1993–1994; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1994–1997. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2000.
138Bobby R. Inman 12 Feb 1981   1 1952 (OCS)29(1931–       )[22] Director of Naval Intelligence, 1974–1976; Director, National Security Agency, 1977–1981. First naval intelligence specialist to attain rank of admiral.
139William N. Small 1 Jul 1981   4 1948 (USNA)33(1927–2016)
140John G. Williams Jr. 1 Jul 1981   2 1947 (USNA)34(1924–1991)
141George E.R. Kinnear II 31 Jul 1981   1 1948 (OCS)33(1928–2015)
142Kinnaird R. McKee 2 Mar 1982   6 1951 (USNA)31(1929–2013) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1975–1978.
143Sylvester R. Foley Jr. 28 May 1982   3 1950 (USNA)32(1928–2019) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, 1985–1988.
144Wesley L. McDonald 1 Oct 1982   3 1946 (USNA)36(1924–2009)
145Ronald J. Hays 29 Apr 1983   5 1950 (USNA)33(1928–2021)
146Steven A. White 1 Aug 1983   2 1952 (NROTC)31(1928–2021) Manager of Nuclear Power, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1986–1988.
147Lee Baggett Jr. 30 May 1985   3 1950 (USNA)35(1927–1999)
148James A. Lyons Jr. 16 Sep 1985   2 1952 (USNA)33(1927–2018)
149Carlisle A.H. Trost 4 Oct 1985   5 1953 (USNA)32(1930–2020)
150James B. Busey IV 17 Oct 1985   4 1954 (NAVCAD)31(1932–2023) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1989–1991; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, 1991–1992.
151Arthur S. Moreau Jr. 15 Nov 1985   1 1953 (USNA)32(1931–1986) Died in office.
152Frank B. Kelso II 13 Jun 1986   8 1956 (USNA)30(1933–2013)
153Huntington Hardisty 11 Mar 1987   4 1952 (USNA)35(1929–2003) President, Naval War College, 1977.
154Powell F. Carter Jr. 1 Oct 1987   4 1955 (USNA)32(1931–2017)
155David E. Jeremiah 1 Oct 1987   7 1956 (OCS)32(1934–2013)
156Leon A. Edney 1 Oct 1988   4 1957 (USNA)31(1935–       )
157Bruce DeMars 1 Nov 1988   8 1957 (USNA)31(1935–2024)
158James R. Hogg 1 Dec 1988   3 1956 (USNA)32(1934–2025)
159Jonathan T. Howe 1 Jun 1989   3 1957 (USNA)32(1935–       ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1982–1984; Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General for Somalia, 1993–1994.
160Charles R. Larson 1 Mar 1990   8 1958 (USNA)32(1936–2014)[23] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1983–1986; Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, 2002.
161Jerome L. Johnson 1 Jul 1990   2 1956 (NROTC)34(1935–       )
162Paul D. Miller 1 Feb 1991   3 1964 (OCS)27(1941–       )
163William D. Smith 22 Feb 1991   2 1955 (USNA)36(1933–2020)
164Robert J. Kelly 1 Mar 1991   3 1959 (USNA)32(1938–       )
165Jeremy M. Boorda 2 Mar 1992   4 1962 (OCS)30(1938–1996) Died in office.
166William O. Studeman 9 Apr 1992   3 1962 (NROTC)30(1940–       ), Director of Naval Intelligence, 1985–1988; Director, National Security Agency, 1988–1992. Father of Navy rear admiral Michael W. Studeman.
167Stanley R. Arthur 6 Jul 1992   3 1957 (NROTC)35(1935–       )[24]
168Henry H. Mauz Jr. 1 Aug 1992   2 1959 (USNA)33(1936–       )
169Henry G. Chiles Jr. 14 Feb 1994   2 1960 (USNA)34(1938–       )
170William A. Owens 1 Mar 1994   2 1962 (USNA)32(1940–       )
171Leighton W. Smith Jr. 1 May 1994   2 1962 (USNA)32(1939–       ) Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Harold Page Smith.
172Richard C. Macke 1 Oct 1994   2 1960 (USNA)34(1938–2022)[7] Relieved, 1996.
173Ronald J. Zlatoper 5 Oct 1994   2 1963 (NROTC)31(1941–2022)
174William J. Flanagan Jr. 1 Nov 1994   2 1964 (MMA)[25]30(1943–       )
175Joseph W. Prueher 1 Jun 1995   4 1964 (USNA)31(1942–       ) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1999–2001.
176Jay L. Johnson 1 Apr 1996   4 1968 (USNA)28(1946–       )
177Thomas J. Lopez 31 Jul 1996   2 1964 (NROTC)32(1940–       )
178Frank L. Bowman 1 Oct 1996   8 1966 (NROTC)30(1944–       )
179Harold W. Gehman Jr. 1 Oct 1996   4 1965 (NROTC)31(1942–       )
180Archie R. Clemins 1 Jan 1997   2 1966 (NROTC)31(1943–2020)
181J. Paul Reason 1 Feb 1997   2 1965 (USNA)32(1941–       ) First African-American to achieve the rank of admiral.
182Donald L. Pilling 30 Oct 1997   3 1965 (USNA)32(1943–2008)
183Richard W. Mies 1 Aug 1998   3 1967 (USNA)31(1944–       )
184Charles S. Abbot 1 Sep 1998   2 1966 (USNA)32(1945–       ) Deputy Director, Office of Homeland Security, 2001–2003.
185James O. Ellis 1 Jan 1999   5 1969 (USNA)30(1947–       )
186Dennis C. Blair 1 May 1999   3 1968 (USNA)31(1946–       ) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2003–2006; Director of National Intelligence, 2009–2010.
187Vernon E. Clark 1 Nov 1999   6 1968 (OCS)31(1944–       )
188Thomas B. Fargo 1 Dec 1999   6 1970 (USNA)29(1948–       )
189Robert J. Natter 1 Sep 2000   3 1967 (USNA)33(1945–       )
190William J. Fallon 1 Nov 2000   8 1967 (NROTC)33(1944–       ) Resigned, 2008.
191Gregory G. Johnson 24 Oct 2001   3 1969 (NROTC)32(1946–       )
192Walter F. Doran 4 May 2002   3 1967 (NROTC)35(1945–       )
193Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. 2 Oct 2002   5 1970 (USNA)32(1948–       )
194Michael G. Mullen 28 Aug 2003   8 1968 (USNA)35(1946–       )
195John B. Nathman 1 Dec 2004   3 1970 (USNA)34(1948–       )
196Timothy J. Keating 1 Jan 2005   5 1971 (USNA)34(1949–       )
197Kirkland H. Donald 1 Jan 2005   8 1975 (USNA)30(1953–       )
198Robert F. Willard 18 Mar 2005   7 1973 (USNA)32(1950–       )
199Henry G. Ulrich III 22 Jul 2005   2 1972 (USNA)33(1950–       )
200Gary Roughead 1 Sep 2005   6 1973 (USNA)32(1951–       )
201James G. Stavridis 18 Oct 2006   7 1976 (USNA)30(1955–       ) Dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 2013–2018.
202Patrick M. Walsh 5 Apr 2007   5 1977 (USNA)30(1955–       )
203Eric T. Olson 6 Jul 2007   4 1973 (USNA)34(1952–       ) First Navy SEAL to achieve the rank of admiral.
204Jonathan W. Greenert 29 Sep 2007   8 1975 (USNA)32(1953–       )
205Mark P. Fitzgerald 30 Nov 2007   3 1973 (NROTC)34(1951–       )
206John C. Harvey Jr. 24 Jul 2009   3 1973 (USNA)36(1951–       ) Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, 2014–2017.
207James A. Winnefeld Jr. 19 May 2010   5 1978 (NROTC)32(1956–       ) Chair, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, 2022–2024.
208Samuel J. Locklear III 6 Oct 2010   5 1977 (USNA)33(1954–       )
209William H. McRaven 8 Aug 2011   3 1977 (NROTC)34(1955–       ) Chancellor, University of Texas System, 2015–2018.
210Mark E. Ferguson III 22 Aug 2011   5 1978 (USNA)33(1956–       )
211Cecil D. Haney 20 Jan 2012   4 1978 (USNA)34(1955–       )
212Bruce W. Clingan 24 Feb 2012   2 1977 (NROTC)34(1955–       )
213William E. Gortney 14 Sep 2012   4 1977 (AOCS)35(1955–       )
214John M. Richardson 2 Nov 2012   7 1982 (USNA)31(1960–       )
215Harry B. Harris Jr. 16 Oct 2013   5 1978 (USNA)35(1956–       )[26] U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, 2018–2021. First Asian-American to achieve the rank of admiral.
216Michael S. Rogers 3 Apr 2014   4 1981 (NROTC)33(1959–       ) First Information Warfare Community officer to achieve the rank of admiral.
217Michelle J. Howard 1 Jul 2014   3 1982 (USNA)32(1960–       ) Chair, The Naming Commission, 2021–2022. First woman to achieve the rank of admiral.
218Philip S. Davidson 19 Dec 2014   7 1982 (USNA)32(1960–       )
219Scott H. Swift 27 May 2015   3 1979 (AOCS)36(1957–       )
220James F. Caldwell Jr. 14 Aug 2015   9 1981 (USNA)34(1959–       ) Great-grandson of Navy four-star admiral Jehu V. Chase.
221Kurt W. Tidd 14 Jan 2016   2 1978 (USNA)38(1956–       )
222William F. Moran 31 May 2016   3 1981 (USNA)35(1958–       )[27]
223James G. Foggo III 20 Oct 2017   3 1981 (USNA)36(1959–       )
224Christopher W. Grady 4 May 2018   7 1984 (NROTC)34(1962–       )
225John C. Aquilino 17 May 2018   6 1984 (USNA)34(1961–       )[28]
226Craig S. Faller 26 Nov 2018   3 1983 (USNA)35(1961–       )
227Robert P. Burke 10 Jun 2019   3 1983 (NROTC)36(1962–       )
228Michael M. Gilday 22 Aug 2019   4 1985 (USNA)34(1962–       )
229Charles A. Richard 18 Nov 2019   3 1982 (OCS)37(1959–       )
230William K. Lescher 29 May 2020   2 1980 (USNA)40(1958–       )
231Samuel J. Paparo Jr. 5 May 2021   5 1987 (NROTC)34(1964–       )
232Daryl L. Caudle 7 Dec 2021   5 1985 (OCS)36(1963–       )
233Stuart B. Munsch 27 Jun 2022   3 1985 (USNA)37(1962–       )
234Lisa M. Franchetti 2 Sep 2022   3 1985 (NROTC)37(1964–       ) Relieved, 2025.
235James W. Kilby 5 Jan 2024   2 1986 (USNA)38(1963–       )
236William J. Houston 10 Jan 2024   2 1990 (NROTC)34(1968–       )
237Stephen T. Koehler 5 Apr 2024   2 1986 (NROTC)38(1964–       )
238Alvin Holsey 7 Nov 2024   1 1988 (NROTC)36(1965–       ) Resigned, 2025.
239Charles B. Cooper II 8 Aug 2025   1 1989 (USNA)36(1967–       )
240Frank M. Bradley 3 Oct 2025   1 1991 (USNA)34
241George M. Wikoff 18 Nov 2025   1 1990 (NROTC)35(1968–       )
242Karl O. Thomas 1 Dec 2025   1 1986 (NROTC)39(1963–       )
243Richard A. Correll 5 Dec 2025   1 1986 (NROTC)39(1964–       )
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Tombstone admirals

The Act of Congress of 4 March 1925, allowed officers in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to be promoted one grade upon retirement if they had been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. Combat citation promotions were colloquially known as "tombstone promotions" because they conferred all the perks and prestige of the higher rank including the loftier title on their tombstones but no additional retirement pay. The Act of Congress of 23 February 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Tombstone promotions were subsequently restricted to citations issued before 1 January 1947, and finally eliminated altogether effective 1 November 1959.

Any admiral who actually served in a grade while on active duty receives precedence on the retired list over any tombstone admiral holding the same retired grade. Tombstone admirals rank among each other according to the dates of their highest active duty grade.

More information Name, Photo ...
Name Photo Date of rank (VADM) Date retired Commission[4] Notes
1William L. Calhoun 16 Jun 1942   Dec 1946   1906 (USNA)[9](1885–1963)[29] Great-grandson of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun.
2Frank J. Fletcher 26 Jun 1942   May 1947   1906 (USNA)[9](1885–1973) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Frank F. Fletcher.
3Aubrey W. Fitch 28 Dec 1942   Jul 1947   1906 (USNA)[9](1883–1948) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945–1947.
4John Howard Hoover 1 Jan 1943   Jul 1948   1906 (USNA)[9](1887–1970)
5Alan G. Kirk 10 Sep 1944   Mar 1946   1909 (USNA)[9](1888–1963) Director of Naval Intelligence, 1941; U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1946–1947; to Soviet Union, 1949–1952; to China, 1962–1963.
6George D. Murray 29 Nov 1944   Aug 1951   1911 (USNA)[9](1889–1956)
7Jesse B. Oldendorf 7 Dec 1944   Sep 1948   1909 (USNA)[9](1887–1974)
8Arthur S. Carpender 3 Apr 1945   Nov 1946   1908 (USNA)[9](1884–1959) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948–19??
9Harry W. Hill 22 Apr 1945   1952-05-00May 1952   1911 (USNA)[9](1890–1971) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1950–1952; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1952–1954.
10Frederick C. Sherman 13 Jul 1945   Mar 1947   1910 (USNA)[9](1880–1957)
11John L. Hall Jr. 10 Dec 1945   May 1953   1913 (USNA)(1891–1978)
12Oscar C. Badger II 13 Dec 1945   Jun 1952   1911 (USNA)[9](1890–1958) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Cousin of U.S. Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger.
13John D. Price 31 Aug 1946   Jun 1954   1916 (USNA)(1892–1957)
14Francis S. Low 12 Mar 1947   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA)(1894–1964)
15David W. Bagley 1 Apr 1947   Apr 1947   1904 (USNA)[9](1883–1960) Father of Navy four-star admiral David H. Bagley and Navy four-star admiral Worth H. Bagley; grandson of North Carolina Governor Jonathan Worth; aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels; wife's aunt married Navy five-star admiral William D. Leahy.
16Harold B. Sallada 11 May 1947   Oct 1949   1917 (USNA)(1895–1977)
17Arthur D. Struble 26 Apr 1948   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA)[30](1894–1983)
18Russell S. Berkey 1 Jul 1948   Sep 1950   1916 (USNA)(1893–1984)
19John W. Reeves Jr. 1 Apr 1949   May 1950   1911 (USNA)[9](1888–1967) General Manager, Los Angeles International Airport, 1950–1952.
20C. Turner Joy 1 Aug 1949   Jul 1954   1916 (USNA)(1895–1956) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1952–1954.
21Thomas L. Sprague 15 Aug 1949   Apr 1952   1917 (USNA)(1894–1972)
22John J. Ballentine 1 Nov 1949   May 1954   1917 (USNA)(1896–1970)
23Matthias B. Gardner 1 Oct 1950   Aug 1956   1919 (USNA)(1897–1975)
24Albert G. Noble 29 Dec 1950   Oct 1951   1917 (USNA)(1885–1980)
25Harold M. Martin 1 Feb 1951   Feb 1956   1919 (USNA)(1896–1972)
26Arthur C. Davis 12 Feb 1951   Apr 1955   1915 (USNA)(1893–1965)
27Laurance T. DuBose 30 Mar 1951   Jun 1955   1913 (USNA)(1893–1967)
28James Fife Jr. 9 Aug 1951   Aug 1955   1918 (USNA)(1897–1975) Director, Mystic Seaport, 1956–1975
29Frank G. Fahrion 28 Dec 1951   May 1956   1917 (USNA)(1894–1970)
30Joseph J. Clark 7 Mar 1952   Dec 1953   1918 (USNA)(1893–1971)
31Roscoe F. Good 27 Mar 1953   Mar 1958   1919 (USNA)(1897–1974)
32William K. Phillips 28 Jul 1953   Aug 1955   1918 (USNA)(1894–1986)
33John E. Gingrich 30 Jul 1953   Oct 1954   1919 (USNA)(1897–1960)
34Alfred M. Pride 9 Oct 1953   Oct 1959   1918 (OCS)[31](1897–1988)
35Edmund T. Wooldridge 6 Apr 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA)(1897–1968)
36Austin K. Doyle 7 May 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA)(1898–1970)
37Stuart S. Murray 7 Dec 1955   Aug 1956   1918 (USNA)(1898–1980) Nephew of Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray.
38Cato D. Glover Jr. 8 Dec 1955   Sep 1957   1919 (USNA)(1897–1988)
39John M. Will 17 Apr 1956   Jul 1959   1923 (USNA)(1899–1981)
40Byron N. Hanlon 1 Nov 1957   Oct 1958   1921 (USNA)(1900–1977)
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History

Four-star positions

Structure of the United States NavyStructure of the United States Navyfederal government of the United StatesUnited States Intelligence Communitycombined operationsUnified combatant commandUnified combatant commandJoint Chiefs of StaffIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Gulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War IIWorld War ISpanish–American WarAmerican Civil War

1866–1941

The rank of admiral was created in 1866 to honor the Civil War achievements of David Farragut. Upon his death, another Civil War hero, David D. Porter Jr., succeeded to the title. In 1873, Congress stated that further vacancies in the grade would not be filled, and the rank lapsed with Porter's death in 1890. Congress revived the rank in 1899 to honor George Dewey, stipulating that the grade would again cease to exist upon his death or retirement. In 1903, Dewey was promoted to the unique rank of Admiral of the Navy, which during his lifetime was considered to be equivalent to an admiral of the fleet, but was later declared to be senior to the five-star grade of fleet admiral.

The Act of 3 March 1915, provided that the commanders in chief of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Asiatic Fleets would have the rank of admiral while so serving, and their seconds in command the rank of vice admiral. In 1916, the Chief of Naval Operations was also made an admiral while so serving, ranking next after the Admiral of the Navy. The ranks of admiral and vice admiral were strictly temporary appointments for the duration of an officer's tour in designated billets, and the temporary admiral reverted to his permanent grade of rear admiral immediately upon vacating the office bearing the title.

In 1917, Congress accommodated the Navy's desire to reorganize the fleet by authorizing the President to appoint three admirals and three vice admirals for any six fleet command positions. All fleet command tours lasted one year except for the commander in chief of the U.S. Fleet, whose term was sometimes renewed for a second year, and the commander in chief of the Asiatic Fleet, whose command was considered a backwater. (The Chief of Naval Operations was appointed for four years.) Officers would typically "fleet up" to admiral or vice admiral for their year of fleet command and then revert to rear admiral to mark time until mandatory retirement.

Charles P. Snyder (admiral)Harold R. StarkJames O. RichardsonThomas C. HartEdward C. KalbfusClaude C. BlochHarry E. YarnellArthur J. HepburnWilliam D. LeahyOrin G. MurfinHarris LaningFrank H. BrumbyFrank B. UphamJoseph M. ReevesDavid F. SellersWilliam H. StandleyLuke McNameeRichard H. LeighMontgomery M. TaylorFrank H. SchofieldJehu V. ChaseCharles B. McVay Jr.Louis M. NultonWilliam V. PrattLouis R. de SteiguerMark L. BristolHenry A. WileyRichard H. JacksonCharles F. HughesClarence S. WilliamsSamuel S. RobisonThomas WashingtonEdwin A. AndersonEdward W. EberleHilary P. JonesJoseph Strauss (admiral)Robert E. CoontzAlbert GleavesHugh RodmanHenry B. Wilson Jr.William S. SimsAustin M. KnightHenry T. MayoWilliam S. BensonWilliam B. CapertonCameron M. WinslowAlbert G. WinterhalterWalter C. CowlesThomas B. HowardFrank F. FletcherGeorge DeweyDavid Dixon PorterDavid FarragutWorld War IIWorld War ISpanish–American WarAmerican Civil War

1941–1991

Harry B. Harris, the first Asian-American four-star admiral, is pinned with his new rank on 16 October 2013

During World War II, the President was authorized to create as many admirals and vice admirals as he deemed necessary for the duration of the emergency. Most of these new creations retired at the end of the war, having been promoted to reward service in the fleet or headquarters, or to achieve parity with wartime counterparts. Although three- and four-star ranks remained temporary appointments, the practice of reverting to a lower grade pending retirement largely halted after 1942, when Congress authorized officers to be retired in the highest grade in which they served on active duty.[32] The rank of fleet admiral was created in 1944, and the four officers promoted to that grade were allowed to remain on active duty permanently.

By 1956, the Navy had equilibrated at a total of seven permanent billets bearing four-star rank: the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO); the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), the commanders in chief of the unified commands in the Pacific (CINCPAC) and Atlantic (CINCLANT); the commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT); the commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM) (retitled commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR) in 1960); and the commander in chief of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH). In 1965, an eighth billet was added when the chief of naval material (CNM) was promoted to admiral. Occasionally this count would fluctuate when a Navy officer was selected as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), as the chairman's four-star representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), or as the director or deputy director of central intelligence; or by special legislation.[23]

When the long-serving director of the naval nuclear reactor program, Hyman G. Rickover, was finally compelled to retire in 1982, his successor was promoted to admiral and appointed director of naval nuclear propulsion, institutionalizing the position as a permanent four-star billet. To compensate, another four-star billet was eliminated by merging Allied Forces Southern Europe with U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Similarly, when the U.S. Atlantic Fleet commander (CINCLANTFLT) was separated from the Atlantic unified commander in 1985, the number of four-star billets was conserved by eliminating the chief of naval material position. The U.S. Atlantic Fleet was replaced by U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF) in 2006.

Jerome L. JohnsonCharles R. LarsonJonathan T. HoweJames R. HoggBruce DeMarsLeon A. EdneyDavid E. JeremiahPowell F. Carter Jr.Huntington HardistyFrank B. Kelso IIArthur S. Moreau Jr.James B. Busey IVCarlisle A. H. TrostJames A. Lyons Jr.Lee Baggett Jr.Steven A. WhiteRonald J. HaysWesley L. McDonaldSylvester R. Foley Jr.Kinnaird R. McKeeGeorge E. R. Kinnear IIJohn G. Williams Jr.William N. SmallBobby R. InmanWilliam J. Crowe Jr.James D. WatkinsHarry D. Train IIAlfred J. Whittle Jr.Donald C. DavisRobert L. J. LongThomas B. HaywardDaniel Murphy (admiral)Stansfield TurnerDavid H. BagleyFrederick H. MichaelisJohn P. WeinelHarold E. ShearMeans Johnston Jr.Hyman G. RickoverWorth H. BagleyJames L. Holloway IIIMaurice F. WeisnerNoel A.M. GaylerRichard G. ColbertIsaac C. Kidd Jr.William F. BringleRalph W. CousinsJackson D. ArnoldCharles K. DuncanElmo R. Zumwalt Jr.Waldemar F. A. WendtBernard A. ClareyJohn J. Hyland Jr.Ephraim P. HolmesIgnatius J. GalantinJohn S. McCain Jr.Roy L. JohnsonAlfred G. WardJohn S. ThachHoracio Rivero Jr.Thomas H. MoorerU.S. Grant Sharp Jr.Charles D. GriffinDavid L. McDonaldClaude V. RickettsGeorge W. Anderson Jr.John H. SidesHarold Page SmithRobert L. DennisonCharles R. BrownJames S. RussellHerbert G. HopwoodJames L. Holloway Jr.Maurice E. CurtsHarry D. FeltWalter F. BooneRobert P. BriscoeArleigh A. BurkeJohn H. CassadyJerauld WrightFelix B. StumpDonald B. DuncanLynde D. McCormickRobert B. CarneyWilliam M. FechtelerForrest P. ShermanArthur W. RadfordLouis E. DenfeldWilliam H.P. BlandyRichard L. ConollyMarc A. MitscherBen MoreellCharles M. Cooke Jr.DeWitt C. RamseyJohn H. TowersSamuel M. RobinsonRichmond K. TurnerThomas C. KinkaidH. Kent HewittRichard S. Edwards Jr.Frederick J. HorneJonas H. IngramRaymond A. SpruanceWilliam F. Halsey Jr.Royal E. IngersollChester W. NimitzErnest J. KingHusband E. KimmelHarold R. StarkThomas C. HartWilliam D. LeahyGulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War II

1991–present

With the end of the Cold War, U.S. Atlantic Command was repurposed as the joint force trainer, becoming U.S. Joint Forces Command in 1999. The change in mission cost the Navy its traditional monopoly over that command, which has since rotated among all the services, but the Navy made up the difference through repeated appointments to other combatant commands and to the vice chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS). All military commanders in chief were retitled "Commanders" in 2002, when the title of "Commander in Chief" was reserved solely to the President of the United States.

Richard A. CorrellKarl O. ThomasGeorge WikoffFrank M. BradleyBrad Cooper (admiral)Alvin HolseyStephen KoehlerWilliam J. HoustonJames KilbyLisa FranchettiStuart B. MunschDaryl CaudleSamuel PaparoWilliam K. LescherCharles A. RichardMichael M. GildayRobert P. BurkeCraig S. FallerJohn C. AquilinoChristopher W. GradyJames G. Foggo IIIWilliam F. Moran (admiral)Kurt W. TiddJames F. Caldwell Jr.Scott H. SwiftPhilip S. DavidsonMichelle J. HowardMichael S. RogersHarry B. Harris Jr.John M. Richardson (admiral)William E. GortneyBruce W. ClinganCecil D. HaneyMark E. Ferguson IIIWilliam H. McRavenSamuel J. LocklearJames A. Winnefeld Jr.John C. Harvey Jr.Mark P. FitzgeraldJonathan W. GreenertEric T. OlsonPatrick M. WalshJames G. StavridisGary RougheadHenry G. Ulrich IIIRobert F. WillardKirkland H. DonaldTimothy J. KeatingJohn B. NathmanMichael MullenEdmund P. Giambastiani Jr.Walter F. DoranGregory G. JohnsonWilliam J. FallonRobert J. NatterThomas B. FargoVernon E. ClarkDennis Blair (U.S. Navy officer)James O. EllisCharles S. AbbotRichard W. MiesDonald L. PillingJ. Paul ReasonArchie R. CleminsHarold W. Gehman Jr.Frank BowmanThomas J. LopezJay L. JohnsonJoseph W. PrueherWilliam J. Flanagan Jr.Ronald J. ZlatoperRichard C. MackeLeighton W. Smith Jr.William A. OwensHenry G. Chiles Jr.Henry H. Mauz Jr.Stanley R. ArthurWilliam O. StudemanJeremy M. BoordaRobert J. KellyWilliam D. SmithPaul David MillerJerome L. JohnsonCharles R. LarsonJonathan T. HoweBruce DeMarsLeon A. EdneyDavid E. JeremiahFrank B. Kelso IIIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Legislation

Further information: Legislative history of United States four-star officers

The following list of Congressional legislation includes major acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of admiral in the United States Navy.

More information Legislation, Citation ...
Legislation Citation Summary
Act of 25 July 1866  14 Stat. 222
Act of 2 March 1899
Act of 3 March 1899		  30 Stat. 995
 30 Stat. 1045
  • Authorized 1 appointment of an Admiral of the Navy (George Dewey).
Act of 3 March 1915  38 Stat. 941
  • Authorized rank of admiral for officers designated as commander in chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet, United States Pacific Fleet, or Asiatic Fleet.
Act of 29 August 1916  39 Stat. 558
  • Increased rank of chief of naval operations to admiral, to rank next after the Admiral of the Navy.
Act of 21 June 1930  46 Stat. 793
Act of 14 December 1944  58 Stat. 802
Act of 7 August 1947

[Officer Personnel Act of 1947]

  61 Stat. 874
 61 Stat. 875
 61 Stat. 876
  • Authorized president to designate, subject to Senate confirmation, Navy officers on the active list to have the grade of admiral while commanding fleets, subdivisions of fleets, or naval units afloat organized to perform a special or unusual mission, or while performing any duty of great importance and responsibility.
  • Capped Navy officers on the active list in grades above rear admiral at 15 percent of the total number of flag officers authorized in the line of the Regular Navy, of whom not more than 8 to serve in the grade of admiral.
  • Authorized all Navy officers to retire with the rank but not the pay of the next higher grade if specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat on or before 31 December 1946 [repealed in 1959 (73 Stat. 337)].
Act of 26 June 1948  62 Stat. 1052
  • Authorized permanent grade of admiral and full active-duty pay and allowances in retirement for Raymond A. Spruance.
Act of 16 November 1973  87 Stat. 621
Act of 12 December 1980

[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]

  94 Stat. 2844
 94 Stat. 2849
 94 Stat. 2876
  • Authorized president to designate positions of importance and responsibility to carry the grade of admiral, to be assigned from officers on active duty in any grade above captain, subject to Senate confirmation, who revert to their permanent grade at the end of their assignment unless it was terminated by
    1. assignment to another position designated to carry the same grade,
    2. up to 180 days of hospitalization, or
    3. up to 90 days prior to retirement [reduced to 60 days in 1991 (105 Stat. 1354)].
  • Capped, except during war or national emergency, Navy officers in grades above rear admiral at 15 percent of all flag officers on active duty, of whom not more than 25 percent to serve in the grade of admiral.
  • Authorized three- and four-star officers to retire in the highest grade held on active duty, at the discretion of the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate, with no time-in-grade requirement [changed in 1996 to certification by secretary of defense and three-year time-in-grade requirement (110 Stat. 292)].
Act of 28 October 2009  123 Stat. 2273
 123 Stat. 2276
  • Capped Navy officers in the grade of admiral at 6, exempting from caps up to 20 admirals assigned to joint duty [joint-duty cap repealed in 2016, effective 31 December 2022 (130 Stat. 2100), and lowered in 2021 to 19 (134 Stat. 3563)].
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