List of United States Navy four-star admirals

Flag of a Navy
four-star admiral

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).

There have been 279 four-star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. Of these, 238 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), 25 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

[edit]

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]

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

Tombstone admirals

[edit]

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.

Name Photo Date of rank (VADM) Date retired Commission[4] Notes
1 William L. Calhoun 16 Jun 1942   Dec 1946   1906 (USNA)[9] (1885–1963)[29] Great-grandson of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun.
2 Frank 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.
3 Aubrey W. Fitch 28 Dec 1942   Jul 1947   1906 (USNA)[9] (1883–1948) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945–1947.
4 John Howard Hoover 1 Jan 1943   Jul 1948   1906 (USNA)[9] (1887–1970)
5 Alan 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.
6 George D. Murray 29 Nov 1944   Aug 1951   1911 (USNA)[9] (1889–1956)
7 Jesse B. Oldendorf 7 Dec 1944   Sep 1948   1909 (USNA)[9] (1887–1974)
8 Arthur S. Carpender 3 Apr 1945   Nov 1946   1908 (USNA)[9] (1884–1959) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948–19??
9 Harry 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.
10 Frederick C. Sherman 13 Jul 1945   Mar 1947   1910 (USNA)[9] (1880–1957)
11 John L. Hall Jr. 10 Dec 1945   May 1953   1913 (USNA) (1891–1978)
12 Oscar 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.
13 John D. Price 31 Aug 1946   Jun 1954   1916 (USNA) (1892–1957)
14 Francis S. Low 12 Mar 1947   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA) (1894–1964)
15 David 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.
16 Harold B. Sallada 11 May 1947   Oct 1949   1917 (USNA) (1895–1977)
17 Arthur D. Struble 26 Apr 1948   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA)[30] (1894–1983)
18 Russell S. Berkey 1 Jul 1948   Sep 1950   1916 (USNA) (1893–1984)
19 John W. Reeves Jr. 1 Apr 1949   May 1950   1911 (USNA)[9] (1888–1967) General Manager, Los Angeles International Airport, 1950–1952.
20 C. Turner Joy 1 Aug 1949   Jul 1954   1916 (USNA) (1895–1956) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1952–1954.
21 Thomas L. Sprague 15 Aug 1949   Apr 1952   1917 (USNA) (1894–1972)
22 John J. Ballentine 1 Nov 1949   May 1954   1917 (USNA) (1896–1970)
23 Matthias B. Gardner 1 Oct 1950   Aug 1956   1919 (USNA) (1897–1975)
24 Albert G. Noble 29 Dec 1950   Oct 1951   1917 (USNA) (1885–1980)
25 Harold M. Martin 1 Feb 1951   Feb 1956   1919 (USNA) (1896–1972)
26 Arthur C. Davis 12 Feb 1951   Apr 1955   1915 (USNA) (1893–1965)
27 Laurance T. DuBose 30 Mar 1951   Jun 1955   1913 (USNA) (1893–1967)
28 James Fife Jr. 9 Aug 1951   Aug 1955   1918 (USNA) (1897–1975) Director, Mystic Seaport, 1956–1975
29 Frank G. Fahrion 28 Dec 1951   May 1956   1917 (USNA) (1894–1970)
30 Joseph J. Clark 7 Mar 1952   Dec 1953   1918 (USNA) (1893–1971)
31 Roscoe F. Good 27 Mar 1953   Mar 1958   1919 (USNA) (1897–1974)
32 William K. Phillips 28 Jul 1953   Aug 1955   1918 (USNA) (1894–1986)
33 John E. Gingrich 30 Jul 1953   Oct 1954   1919 (USNA) (1897–1960)
34 Alfred M. Pride 9 Oct 1953   Oct 1959   1918 (OCS)[31] (1897–1988)
35 Edmund T. Wooldridge 6 Apr 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA) (1897–1968)
36 Austin K. Doyle 7 May 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA) (1898–1970)
37 Stuart S. Murray 7 Dec 1955   Aug 1956   1918 (USNA) (1898–1980) Nephew of Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray.
38 Cato D. Glover Jr. 8 Dec 1955   Sep 1957   1919 (USNA) (1897–1988)
39 John M. Will 17 Apr 1956   Jul 1959   1923 (USNA) (1899–1981)
40 Byron N. Hanlon 1 Nov 1957   Oct 1958   1921 (USNA) (1900–1977)

History

[edit]

Four-star positions

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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.

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

[edit]
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.

Legislation Citation Summary
Act of July 25, 1866  14 Stat. 222
Act of March 2, 1899
Act of March 3, 1899 		 30 Stat. 995
 30 Stat. 1045
  • Authorized 1 appointment of an Admiral of the Navy (George Dewey).
Act of March 3, 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 August 29, 1916  39 Stat. 558
  • Increased rank of chief of naval operations to admiral, to rank next after the Admiral of the Navy.
Act of June 21, 1930  46 Stat. 793
Act of December 14, 1944  58 Stat. 802
Act of August 7, 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 December 31, 1946 [repealed in 1959 (73 Stat. 337)].
Act of June 26, 1948  62 Stat. 1052
  • Authorized permanent grade of admiral and full active-duty pay and allowances in retirement for Raymond A. Spruance.
Act of November 16, 1973  87 Stat. 621
Act of December 12, 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 October 28, 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 December 31, 2022 (130 Stat. 2100), and lowered in 2021 to 19 (134 Stat. 3563)].

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dates of rank are taken, where available, from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, or from the U.S. Navy register of active and retired commissioned officers, or from the World Almanac and Book of Facts. The date listed is that of the officer's first promotion to admiral, and may differ from the officer's entry in the U.S. Navy register, which lists admirals who reverted to their permanent ranks of rear admiral as ranking from the date of the legislation that ultimately restored them to the rank of admiral, not from the dates of their original appointments.
  2. ^ a b Positions listed are those held by the officer when promoted to admiral. Dates listed are for the officer's full tenure, which may predate promotion to four-star rank or postdate retirement from active duty.
  3. ^ a b The number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Date of rank" column from the last year in the "Position" column. Time spent between active-duty four-star assignments is not counted, nor is time spent on special duty as an unassigned fleet admiral.
  4. ^ a b c The year commissioned is taken to be the year the officer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, or equivalent, which may precede the officer's actual date of commission by up to two years. Prior to 1912, graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy were required by law to serve two years at sea as passed midshipmen before receiving their commission as ensign. Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), warrant; the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), and the United States Military Academy (USMA).
  5. ^ a b The number of years in commission before being promoted to four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Commission" column from the year in the "Date of rank" column.
  6. ^ a b Notes include years of birth and death; awards of the Medal of Honor, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, or honors of similar significance; major government appointments; university presidencies or equivalents; familial relationships with other four-star officers or significant government officials such as U.S. Presidents, cabinet secretaries, U.S. Senators, or state governors; and unusual career events such as premature relief or death in office.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw Reverted to permanent rank of rear admiral upon vacating an office bearing the temporary rank of admiral.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 21 Jun 1930, as highest grade held during World War I.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu Commissioned as ensign after two years of sea duty.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 16 Jun 1942, as highest rank held on the active list.
  11. ^ a b Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 14 Aug 1938, as highest rank held while Chief of Naval Operations.
  12. ^ Retired as rear admiral, 1 Jan 1937; advanced to admiral on the retired list, 14 Aug 1938; recalled as admiral, 13 Feb 1941; retired, 11 Feb 1942; recalled as admiral, 12 Apr 1944; retired, 31 Aug 1945.
  13. ^ Retired as rear admiral, Dec 1936; recalled as rear admiral, 13 May 1940; advanced to vice admiral on the retired list, 23 Feb 1942; advanced to admiral on the retired list, 16 Jun 1942; retired, Dec 1946.
  14. ^ Retired as admiral, Aug 1939; recalled as admiral, 6 Jul 1942; promoted to fleet admiral, 15 Dec 1944; rank made permanent, 13 May 1946 (Act of 23 Mar 1946).
  15. ^ Retired as rear admiral, 1939; recalled as rear admiral, 1941; advanced to vice admiral on the retired list, 23 Feb 1942; advanced to admiral on the retired list, 16 Jun 1942; retired, 15 Jan 1943; recalled as admiral, 23 Jun 1943; retired, 15 Jan 1945.
  16. ^ a b c Retired as admiral, as highest rank held on active list.
  17. ^ Retired as admiral, Jul 1942, by Act of Congress; recalled as admiral, Jul 1942; retired, Feb 1945.
  18. ^ Promoted to admiral, 1947, with date of rank Jan 1946.
  19. ^ a b Reverted to vice admiral for final tour; retired as admiral.
  20. ^ Reverted to vice admiral for final tour; died in office.
  21. ^ Retired as vice admiral, 1964; retained on active duty until 1982; advanced to admiral on the retired list, 3 Dec 1973, with date of rank 16 Nov 1973.
  22. ^ Nomination as U.S. Secretary of Defense withdrawn, 1994.
  23. ^ a b In 1994, special legislation authorized Charles R. Larson to resume the superintendency of the U.S. Naval Academy, then a two-star billet, as a full admiral.
  24. ^ Nomination as commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) withdrawn, 1994.
  25. ^ Transferred from U.S. Merchant Marine, 1967.
  26. ^ Nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Australia withdrawn, 2018.
  27. ^ Nomination as Chief of Naval Operations confirmed, May 2019; retired prior to assumption of post.
  28. ^ First nomination as commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM) returned to the President, 2021.
  29. ^ Retired as vice admiral, Dec 1946; advanced to admiral on the retired list by reason of combat citation, Jan 1954.
  30. ^ "US People--Struble, Arthur D". Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2008. Struble entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911 and received his commission in 1915.
  31. ^ Transferred from U.S. Naval Reserve, 1921.
  32. ^ Act of Congress of 16 July 1942.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Air Force Association (May 2006), "USAF Almanac 2006" (PDF), Air Force Magazine, 89 (5), archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007
  • Cole, Ronald H.; Poole, Walter S.; Schnabel, James F.; Watson, Robert J.; Webb, Willard J. (1995), The History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946–1993 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2007, retrieved 14 April 2007
  • Heaton, Dean R. (1995), Four Stars: The Super Stars of United States Military History, Baltimore: Gateway Press
  • Naval Historical Center, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Washington D.C.: Department of the Navy
  • Oden, Archibald Jr. (1919), Navy Yearbook, Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office
  • Reynolds, Clark G. (1978), Famous American Admirals, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press
  • U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel (1945–1984), Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, Washington D.C.: Department of the Navy
  • U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel (1960–1984), Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy and Marine Corps (1945, 1950–1984), Washington D.C.: Department of the Navy