List of United States Navy four-star admirals

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four-star admiral

This is a complete list of four-star admirals in the United States Navy. The rank of

U.S. Navy. It ranks above vice admiral (three-star admiral) and below fleet admiral
(five-star admiral).

There have been 278 four-star admirals in the history of the

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]

# 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)
David G. Farragut
.
3 George Dewey 2 Mar 1899  
  • Commander,
    Asiatic Station
    , 1898–1899.
  • President,
    General Board of the Navy
    , 1900–1917.
 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)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1914–1915.
 1 1873 (USNA) 42 (1853–1917)[7]
7 Albert G. Winterhalter 9 Jul 1915  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1915–1917.
 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)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1917–1918.
 1 1873 (USNA)[9] 44 (1854–1927)
Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes
.
13
William S. Sims
 		4 Dec 1918  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters
    , 1917–1919.
 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)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1919–1921.
 2 1877 (USNA)[9] 42 (1858–1937)
U.S. Naval Home
, 1928–1931.
17
Robert E. Coontz
 		1 Nov 1919   6 1885 (USNA)[9] 34 (1864–1935)
Governor of Guam
, 1912–1913.
18 Joseph Strauss 4 Feb 1921  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1921–1922.
 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)
Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
, 1915–1919.
21
Edwin A. Anderson
 		28 Aug 1922  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1922–1923.
 1 1882 (USNA)[9] 40 (1860–1933)[7] Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914.
22
Samuel S. Robison
 		30 Jun 1923  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1923–1925.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Fleet
    (CINCUS), 1925–1926.
 3 1888 (USNA)[9] 35 (1867–1952)
Charles F. Hughes
.
23 Thomas Washington 11 Oct 1923  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1923–1925.
 2 1887 (USNA)[9] 36 (1865–1954)
U.S. Naval Home
, 1931–1937.
24
Charles F. Hughes
 		14 Oct 1925   5 1888 (USNA)[9] 37 (1866–1934)
Samuel S. Robison; daughter married brother of Navy five-star admiral Chester W. Nimitz
.
25 Clarence S. Williams 14 Oct 1925  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1925–1927.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1927–1929.
 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)
Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
, 1925–1928.
32 Charles B. McVay Jr. 9 Sep 1929  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1929–1931.
 2 1890 (USNA)[9] 39 (1868–1949)[7][10]
33 Frank H. Schofield 24 May 1930  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1930–1931.
  • Commander,
    Battle Force
    , U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1931.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Fleet
    (CINCUS), 1931–1932.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1931–1933.
 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)
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)
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)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1933–1935.
 2 1893 (USNA)[9] 40 (1872–1939)
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)
U.S. Naval Home
, 1937–1941.
44 Orin G. Murfin 4 Oct 1935  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1935–1936.
 1 1897 (USNA)[9] 38 (1876–1956)[7][10]
45 William D. Leahy 30 Mar 1936   10 1897 (USNA)[9] 39 (1875–1959)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1936–1939.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Asiatic Fleet
    (CINCAF), 1939–1942.
 3 1897 (USNA)[9] 42 (1877–1971)
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  
  • U.S. Fleet
    (CINCPAC/CINCUS), 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   4 1901 (USNA)[9] 40 (1878–1956) Promoted to
Frederic H. Smith Jr.
56 Chester W. Nimitz 31 Dec 1941   6 1905 (USNA)[9] 36 (1885–1966) Promoted to
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   3 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  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Europe
    (COMNAVEUR), 1946.
  • Commander,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (COMNAVEASTLANTMED), 1946–1947.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCNAVEASTLANTMED), 1947–1948.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCNELM), 1948–1950.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCNELM), 1950–1951.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCSOUTH/CINCNELM), 1951–1952.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1952–1953.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1953–1955.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCNELM), 1954–1956.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1956–1959.
 3 1918 (USNA) 38 (1897–1968)
86 Walter F. Boone 1 May 1956  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCNELM), 1956–1958.
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1958–1960.
 4 1920 (USNA) 36 (1898–1995)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    /Commander in Chief, Specified Command Middle East (CINCNELM/CINCSPECOMME), 1958–1959.
 1 1918 (USNA) 40 (1898–1984)
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1959–1961.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1963.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1963–1967.
 4 1928 (USNA) 35 (1906–1997)
99 Charles D. Griffin 26 Jun 1963  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1963.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1963–1965.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1965–1968.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1965–1967.
 2 1927 (USNA) 38 (1905–1981)
104 Alfred G. Ward 27 Mar 1965  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1965–1968.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1967–1968.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Pacific Command
    (CINCPAC), 1968–1972.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1968–1971.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1971–1973.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1972–1973.
 1 1937 (USNA) 35 (1915–1973) President, Naval War College, 1968–1971.
119 Noel A.M. Gayler 1 Sep 1972  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Pacific Command
    (CINCPAC), 1972–1976.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1973–1975.
 2 1939 (USNA) 34 (1916–1989)
125 Harold E. Shear 24 May 1974  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1974–1975.
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1975–1977.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1977–1980.
 6 1942 (USNA) 32 (1918–1999) Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, 1981–1985.
126 John P. Weinel 2 Aug 1974  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1974–1977.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Naval Forces Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1975–1977.
 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,
U.S. Secretary of Energy
, 1989–1993.
137 William J. Crowe Jr. 30 May 1980  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCSOUTH), 1980–1983.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1983.
  • Commander in Chief,
    Pacific Command
    (CINCPAC), 1983.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Pacific Command
    (USCINCPAC), 1983–1985.
  • Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1985–1989.
 9 1947 (USNA) 33 (1925–2007) Chairman,
U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1994–1997. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
, 2000.
138 Bobby R. Inman 12 Feb 1981  
  • Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
    (DDCI), 1981–1982.
 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  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1981–1982.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1985.
  • U.S. Atlantic Command
    (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1985–1988.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1985–1986.
 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–       )
158 James R. Hogg 1 Dec 1988  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1988–1991.
 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)
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  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee
    (USMILREP), 1991–1993.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1991–1994.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1994–1996.
 4 1962 (
OCS
)		 30 (1938–1996) Died in office.
166 William O. Studeman 9 Apr 1992  
  • Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
    (DDCI), 1992–1995.
 3 1962 (NROTC) 30 (1940–       ),
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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Strategic Command
    (USCINCSTRAT), 1994–1996.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1994–1996.
 2 1962 (USNA) 32 (1939–       ) Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Harold Page Smith.
172 Richard C. Macke 1 Oct 1994  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Pacific Command
    (USCINCPAC), 1994–1996.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1996–1998.
 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  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1996–1997.
  • U.S. Atlantic Command
    (SACLANT/USCINCACOM), 1997–1999.
  • U.S. Joint Forces Command
    (SACLANT/USCINCJFCOM), 1999–2000.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Strategic Command
    (USCINCSTRAT), 1998–2001.
 3 1967 (USNA) 31 (1944–       )
184 Charles S. Abbot 1 Sep 1998  
  • Deputy Commander in Chief,
    U.S. European Command
    (DCINCEUR), 1998–2000.
 2 1966 (USNA) 32 (1945–       ) Deputy Director, Office of Homeland Security, 2001–2003.
185 James O. Ellis 1 Jan 1999  
  • Commander in Chief,
    Allied Forces Southern Europe
    (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1998–2001.
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Strategic Command
    (USCINCSTRAT), 2001–2002.
  • Commander,
    U.S. Strategic Command
    (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2002–2004.
 5 1969 (USNA) 30 (1947–       )
186 Dennis C. Blair 1 May 1999  
  • Commander in Chief,
    U.S. Pacific Command
    (USCINCPAC), 1999–2002.
 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  
  • Commander,
    Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command
    (CDRUSNORTHCOM/CDRNORAD), 2004–2007.
  • Commander,
    U.S. Pacific Command
    (CDRUSPACOM), 2007–2009.
 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  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Special Operations Command
    (CDRUSSOCOM), 2007–2011.
 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  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Special Operations Command
    (CDRUSSOCOM), 2011–2014.
 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  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (COMUSFF/COMUSNAVNORTHCOM), 2014–2018.
  • Commander,
    U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
    (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2018–2021.
 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  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Southern Command
    (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2016–2018.
 2 1978 (USNA) 38 (1956–       ) Son of Navy vice admiral
Emmett H. Tidd; brother of Navy rear admiral Mark L. Tidd
.
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  
  • Commander,
    U.S. Southern Command
    (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2018–2021.
 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–       )

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.

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
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)
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)
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
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

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

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

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

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

deputy director of central intelligence; or by special legislation.[23]

When the long-serving director of the naval nuclear reactor program,

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

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.

Stephen 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)

See also

References

  1. ^
    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. ^
    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. ^
    superintendency of the U.S. Naval Academy
    , then a two-star billet, as a full admiral.
  24. 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. 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

  • 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
  • U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel (2003), Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the USN, NAVPERS 15939 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Department of the Navy, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2006
  • U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel (2006), Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Active Duty List, NAVPERS 15018 (PDF), Washington D.C.: Department of the Navy, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2006
  • U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. SIXTH Fleet, "Chronology of Commanders", www.c6f.navy.mil/, archived from the original on 6 January 2008
  • Wheeler, Gerald E. (1974), Admiral William Veazie Pratt, U.S. Navy: A Sailor's Life, Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office
  • "World Almanac and Book of Facts 1946–1947, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006",
    World Almanac and Book of Facts
    , New York: World Almanac Education Group, Inc., 1946–2006
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