List of United States Navy four-star admirals

Home Page | List of United States Navy four-star admirals

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

List of admirals

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

# Name Photo Date of rank Position Yrs Commission YC Notes
1 David G. Farragut 25 Jul 1866  
  • Admiral of the Navy, 1866–1870.
  • Commander, European Squadron, 1867–1868.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1914–1916.
 2 1875 (USNA) 40 (1855–1928) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Frank J. Fletcher.
5 Thomas B. Howard 11 Mar 1915  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1914–1915.
 1 1873 (USNA) 42 (1854–1920) 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 Albert G. Winterhalter 9 Jul 1915  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1915–1917.
 2 1877 (USNA) 38 (1856–1920)
8 Cameron M. Winslow 13 Sep 1915  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1915–1916.
 1 1875 (USNA) 40 (1854–1932)
9 Henry T. Mayo 19 Jun 1916  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1916–1919.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1919.
 3 1876 (USNA) 41 (1857–1937) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1924–1928.
10 William B. Caperton 28 Jul 1916  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1916–1919.
 3 1875 (USNA) 41 (1855–1941) Special Representative of the President in Brazil, 1918.
11 William S. Benson 29 Aug 1916  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1915–1919.
 3 1877 (USNA) 39 (1855–1932) 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) 44 (1854–1927) President, Naval War College, 1913–1917. Brother of 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) 38 (1858–1936) President, Naval War College, 1917; 1919–1922. Awarded Pulitzer Prize for History, 1921.
14 Henry B. Wilson Jr. 30 Jun 1919  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1919–1921.
 2 1881 (USNA) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1919–1921.
 2 1880 (USNA) 39 (1859–1940) 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) 42 (1858–1937) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928–1931.
17 Robert E. Coontz 1 Nov 1919  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1919–1923.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1923–1925.
 6 1885 (USNA) 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) 36 (1861–1948)
19 Hilary P. Jones 30 Jun 1921  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1921–1922.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1922–1923.
 2 1884 (USNA) 37 (1865–1939)
20 Edward W. Eberle 5 Jul 1921  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1921.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1921–1923.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1923–1927.
 6 1885 (USNA) 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) 40 (1860–1933) 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) 35 (1867–1952) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1923–1925.
 2 1887 (USNA) 36 (1865–1954) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1931–1937.
24 Charles F. Hughes 14 Oct 1925  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1925–1926.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1926–1927.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1927–1930.
 5 1888 (USNA) 37 (1866–1934) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1925–1927.
 2 1884 (USNA) 41 (1863–1951) President, Naval War College, 1922–1925.
26 Richard H. Jackson 4 Sep 1926  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1926–1927.
 1 1887 (USNA) 39 (1866–1971) 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) 39 (1867–1943) 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) 40 (1868–1939) U.S. High Commissioner, Turkey, 1919–1927.
29 Louis R. de Steiguer 10 Sep 1927  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1927–1928.
 1 1889 (USNA) 38 (1867–1947)
30 William V. Pratt 26 Jun 1928  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1928–1929.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1929–1930.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1930–1933.
 5 1889 (USNA) 39 (1869–1957) President, Naval War College, 1925–1927.
31 Louis M. Nulton 21 May 1929  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1929–1930.
 1 1889 (USNA) 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) 39 (1868–1949)
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) 40 (1869–1942)
34 Jehu V. Chase 17 Sep 1930  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1930–1931.
 1 1890 (USNA) 40 (1869–1937) 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) 41 (1869–1952) 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) 40 (1870–1946)
37 Luke McNamee 11 Aug 1932  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1932–1933.
 1 1892 (USNA) 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  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1933–1937.
 4 1895 (USNA) 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) 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) 39 (1872–1948)
41 Frank B. Upham 18 Aug 1933  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1933–1935.
 2 1893 (USNA) 40 (1872–1939) 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) 39 (1874–1950)
43 Harris Laning 1 Apr 1935  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1935–1936.
 1 1895 (USNA) 40 (1873–1941) President, Naval War College, 1930–1933; Governor, 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) 38 (1876–1956)
45 William D. Leahy 30 Mar 1936   5 1897 (USNA) 39 (1875–1959) 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) 39 (1877–1964)
47 Harry E. Yarnell 30 Oct 1936  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1936–1939.
 3 1897 (USNA) 39 (1875–1959)
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) 38 (1878–1967)
49 Edward C. Kalbfus 29 Jan 1938  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1938–1939.
 1 1899 (USNA) 39 (1877–1954) 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) 37 (1878–1974) Relieved, 1941.
51 Thomas C. Hart 25 Jul 1939  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1939–1942.
 3 1897 (USNA) 42 (1877–1971) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1931–1934; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1945–1946.
52 Harold R. Stark 1 Aug 1939  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1939–1942.
  • Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR), 1942–1945.
 6 1903 (USNA) 36 (1880–1972)
53 Charles P. Snyder 6 Jan 1940  
  • Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1940–1941.
 1 1900 (USNA) 40 (1879–1964) President, Naval War College, 1937–1939.
54 Husband E. Kimmel 1 Feb 1941  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCPAC/CINCUS), 1941.
 0 1904 (USNA) 37 (1882–1968) Relieved, 1941. Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid.
55 Ernest J. King 1 Feb 1941  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1941.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (COMINCH), 1941–1942.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet/Chief of Naval Operations (COMINCH/CNO), 1942–1945.
 3 1901 (USNA) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1941–1943.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1943–1944.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1944–1945.
 3 1905 (USNA) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1941–1944.
  • Commander, Western Sea Frontier (COMWESTSEAFRON), 1944–1946.
  • Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCOMINCH/DCNO), 1944–1945.
 3 1905 (USNA) 37 (1883–1976)
58 William F. Halsey Jr. 18 Nov 1942  
  • Commander, South Pacific Area/Commander, South Pacific Force (COMSOPAC/COMSOPACFOR), 1942–1944.
  • Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 1944–1945.
 2 1904 (USNA) 38 (1882–1959) Promoted to fleet admiral, 4 Dec 1945.
59 Raymond A. Spruance 16 Feb 1944   4 1906 (USNA) 38 (1886–1969) U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1952–1955.
60 Jonas H. Ingram 15 Nov 1944  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1944–1946.
 2 1909 (USNA) 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) 45 (1880–1959)
62 Richard S. Edwards Jr. 3 Apr 1945  
  • Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCOMINCH/DCNO), 1944–1945.
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1945–1946.
  • Commander, Western Sea Frontier/Commander, Pacific Reserve Fleet (COMWESTSEAFRON/COMPACRESFLT), 1946–1947.
 2 1907 (USNA) 38 (1885–1956)
63 H. Kent Hewitt 3 Apr 1945  
  • Commander, U.S. Eighth Fleet (COMEIGHTHFLT), 1943–1945.
  • Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR), 1945–1946.
  • U.S. Naval Representative, U.N. Military Staff Committee (USNAVYMILCOMUNO), 1947–1949.
 4 1907 (USNA) 38 (1887–1972)
64 Thomas C. Kinkaid 3 Apr 1945  
  • Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 1943–1945.
  • Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier/Commander, Atlantic Reserve Fleet (COMEASTSEAFRON/COMLANTRESFLT), 1946–1950.
 5 1908 (USNA) 37 (1888–1972) Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Husband E. Kimmel.
65 Richmond K. Turner 24 May 1945  
  • Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific (COMPHIBPAC), 1944–1945.
  • U.S Naval Representative, U.N. Military Staff Committee (USNAVYMILCOMUNO), 1945–1947.
 2 1908 (USNA) 37 (1885–1961)
66 Samuel M. Robinson 27 Aug 1945  
  • Director, Office of Procurement and Material, 1942–1946.
 1 1903 (USNA) 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) 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) 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) Candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, 1950. Relieved, 1949.
70 Charles M. Cooke Jr. 8 Jan 1946  
  • Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 1946–1947.
  • Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Western Pacific (COMNAVWESPAC), 1947–1948.
 2 1910 (USNA) 36 (1886–1970)
71 Marc A. Mitscher 1 Mar 1946  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1946–1947.
 1 1910 (USNA) 36 (1887–1947) Died in office.
72 Ben Moreell 11 Jun 1946  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 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) President, Naval War College, 1950–1953; President, Long Island University, 1953–1962.
74 William H.P. Blandy 3 Feb 1947  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1947.
  • Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1947–1950.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1949–1951.
 2 1917 (USNA) 32 (1896–1951) Died in office.
77 William M. Fechteler 1 Feb 1950  
  • Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1950–1951.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1951–1953.
  • Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1953–1956.
 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, Allied Forces Southern Europe/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  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1950–1951.
  • Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1951–1952.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1952–1954.
 4 1915 (USNA) 35 (1895–1956) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1953–1958.
  • Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1958.
 5 1917 (USNA) 36 (1894–1972)
82 Jerauld Wright 6 Apr 1954  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1954–1960.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1955–1961.
 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) 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  
  • Deputy Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (DCINCPAC/DCINCPACFLT), 1955–1958.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1958.
 1 1919 (USNA) 38 (1898–1976)
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) 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1958–1960.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean/Commander in Chief, Specified Command Middle East (CINCNELM/CINCSPECOMME), 1959–1960.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1960–1963.
 4 1923 (USNA) 36 (1901–1980)
94 Harold Page Smith 1 Feb 1960  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1960–1963.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1963–1965.
 5 1924 (USNA) 36 (1904–1993) Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr.
95 John H. Sides 1 Mar 1960  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1960–1963.
 3 1925 (USNA) 35 (1904–1978)
96 George W. Anderson Jr. 1 Aug 1961  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1961–1963.
 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 Europe/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 Europe/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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1963–1964.
  • Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1964–1968.
 5 1927 (USNA) 36 (1906–2001) Great-aunt married U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant.
101 Thomas H. Moorer 26 Jun 1964  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1964–1965.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1965–1967.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1967–1970.
  • Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1970–1974.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1965–1967.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1965–1970.
 3 1933 (USNA) 34 (1910–2004)
108 Ephraim P. Holmes 17 Jun 1967  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1967–1970.
 3 1930 (USNA) 37 (1908–1997)
109 John J. Hyland Jr. 1 Dec 1967  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1967–1970.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1970–1974.
 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  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1970–1972.
 2 1933 (USNA) 37 (1911–1994)
114 Jackson D. Arnold 14 Oct 1970  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1970–1971.
 1 1934 (USNA) 36 (1912–2007) First restricted line officer to attain rank of admiral.
115 Ralph W. Cousins 1970-10-3030 Oct 1970  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1970–1972.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1972–1975.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1971–1975.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1975–1978.
 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  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1972–1973.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1973–1976.
  • Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1976–1979.
 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  
  • Director, Naval Reactors Branch, Atomic Energy Commission/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Ship Systems Command, 1966–1974.
  • Director, Naval Reactors Branch, Atomic Energy Commission/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1974–1975.
  • Director, Division of Naval Reactors, Energy Research and Development Administration/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1975–1977.
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1977–1982.
 9 1922 (USNA) 51 (1900–1986) 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  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1975–1978.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1975–1977.
  • Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), 1977–1981.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1976–1978.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1978–1982.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1978–1981.
 3 1943 (USNA) 35 (1921–1998)
134 Alfred J. Whittle Jr. 1 Aug 1978  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1978–1981.
 3 1945 (USNA) 33 (1924–1993)
135 Harry D. Train II 1 Oct 1978  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1978–1982.
 4 1949 (USNA) 29 (1927–       )
136 James D. Watkins 18 Sep 1979  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1979–1981.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1981–1982.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1982–1986.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1980–1983.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/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, 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  
  • Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1981–1982.
 1 1952 (OCS) 29 (1931–       ) 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  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1981–1983.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1983–1985.
 4 1948 (USNA) 33 (1927–2016)
140 John G. Williams Jr. 1 Jul 1981  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1981–1983.
 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  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1982–1988.
 6 1951 (USNA) 31 (1929–2013) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1975–1978.
143 Sylvester R. Foley Jr. 28 May 1982  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1982–1985.
 3 1950 (USNA) 32 (1928–2019) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, 1985–1988.
144 Wesley L. McDonald 1 Oct 1982  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1982–1983.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/USCINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1983–1985.
 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  
  • Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1983–1985.
 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, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1985.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1985–1988.
 3 1950 (USNA) 35 (1927–1999)
148 James A. Lyons Jr. 16 Sep 1985  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1985–1987.
 2 1952 (USNA) 33 (1927–2018)
149 Carlisle A.H. Trost 4 Oct 1985  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANTFLT/DCINCLANT), 1985–1986.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1986–1990.
 5 1953 (USNA) 32 (1930–2020)
150 James B. Busey IV 17 Oct 1985  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1985–1987.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1987–1989.
 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, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANTFLT/DCINCLANT), 1986.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1986–1988.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1988–1990.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1990–1994.
 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  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1987–1988.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1988–1991.
 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  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1988–1990.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1990–1992.
 4 1957 (USNA) 31 (1935–       )
157 Bruce DeMars 1 Nov 1988  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1988–1996.
 8 1957 (USNA) 31 (1935–2024)
158 James R. Hogg 1 Dec 1988  
  • U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1988–1991.
 3 1956 (USNA) 32 (1934–2025)
159 Jonathan T. Howe 1 Jun 1989  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1989–1991.
  • Deputy National Security Advisor, 1991–1993.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1990–1991.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1991–1994.
  • Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1994–1998.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1991–1992.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1992–1993.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCACOM), 1993–1994.
 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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1991–1994.
 3 1959 (USNA) 32 (1938–       )
165 Jeremy M. Boorda 2 Mar 1992  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/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–       ), 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–       )
168 Henry H. Mauz Jr. 1 Aug 1992  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1992–1994.
 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, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/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) Relieved, 1996.
173 Ronald J. Zlatoper 5 Oct 1994  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1994–1996.
 2 1963 (NROTC) 31 (1941–2022)
174 William J. Flanagan Jr. 1 Nov 1994  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1994–1996.
 2 1964 (MMA) 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, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1996–1998.
 2 1964 (NROTC) 32 (1940–       )
178 Frank L. Bowman 1 Oct 1996  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1996–2000.
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2000–2004.
 8 1966 (NROTC) 30 (1944–       )
179 Harold W. Gehman Jr. 1 Oct 1996  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1996–1997.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCACOM), 1997–1999.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Joint Forces Command (SACLANT/USCINCJFCOM), 1999–2000.
 4 1965 (NROTC) 31 (1942–       )
180 Archie R. Clemins 1 Jan 1997  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1996–1999.
 2 1966 (NROTC) 31 (1943–2020)
181 J. Paul Reason 1 Feb 1997  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1996–1999.
 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, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/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  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1999–2000.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2000–2005.
 6 1968 (OCS) 31 (1944–       )
188 Thomas B. Fargo 1 Dec 1999  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1999–2002.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 2002.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2002–2005.
 6 1970 (USNA) 29 (1948–       )
189 Robert J. Natter 1 Sep 2000  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 2000–2001.
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Fleet Forces Command (CINCLANTFLT/CFFC), 2001–2002.
  • Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CFFC/COMLANTFLT), 2002–2003.
 3 1967 (USNA) 33 (1945–       )
190 William J. Fallon 1 Nov 2000  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2000–2003.
  • Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CFFC/COMLANTFLT), 2003–2005.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2005–2007.
  • Commander, U.S. Central Command (CDRUSCENTCOM), 2007–2008.
 8 1967 (NROTC) 33 (1944–       ) Resigned, 2008.
191 Gregory G. Johnson 24 Oct 2001  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 2001–2002.
  • Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (COMUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 2002–2004.
  • Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2004.
 3 1969 (NROTC) 32 (1946–       )
192 Walter F. Doran 4 May 2002  
  • Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 2002.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2002–2005.
 3 1967 (NROTC) 35 (1945–       )
193 Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. 2 Oct 2002  
  • Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (SACLANT/CDRUSJFCOM), 2002–2003.
  • Supreme Allied Commander Transformation/Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command (SACT/CDRUSJFCOM), 2003–2005.
  • Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2005–2007.
 5 1970 (USNA) 32 (1948–       )
194 Michael G. Mullen 28 Aug 2003   8 1968 (USNA) 35 (1946–       )
195 John B. Nathman 1 Dec 2004  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2004–2005.
  • Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CFFC/COMLANTFLT), 2005–2006.
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2006–2007.
 3 1970 (USNA) 34 (1948–       )
196 Timothy J. Keating 1 Jan 2005   5 1971 (USNA) 34 (1949–       )
197 Kirkland H. Donald 1 Jan 2005  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2004–2012.
 8 1975 (USNA) 30 (1953–       )
198 Robert F. Willard 18 Mar 2005  
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2005–2007.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2007–2009.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2009–2012.
 7 1973 (USNA) 32 (1950–       )
199 Henry G. Ulrich III 22 Jul 2005   2 1972 (USNA) 33 (1950–       )
200 Gary Roughead 1 Sep 2005  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2005–2007.
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2007.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2007–2011.
 6 1973 (USNA) 32 (1951–       )
201 James G. Stavridis 18 Oct 2006  
  • Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2006–2009.
  • Commander, U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander Europe (CDRUSEUCOM/SACEUR), 2009–2013.
 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  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2007–2009.
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2009–2011.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2011–2015.
 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  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2009–2012.
 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, 2022–2024.
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  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2012–2013.
  • Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2013–2016.
 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  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2012–2015.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2015–2019.
 7 1982 (USNA) 31 (1960–       )
215 Harry B. Harris Jr. 16 Oct 2013  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2013–2015.
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2015–2018.
 5 1978 (USNA) 35 (1956–       ) 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 (COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMUSNAVNORTHCOM), 2014–2018.
  • Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2018–2021.
 7 1982 (USNA) 32 (1960–       )
219 Scott H. Swift 27 May 2015  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2015–2018.
 3 1979 (AOCS) 36 (1957–       )
220 James F. Caldwell Jr. 14 Aug 2015  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2015–2024.
 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–       )
222 William F. Moran 31 May 2016   3 1981 (USNA) 35 (1958–       )
223 James G. Foggo III 20 Oct 2017   3 1981 (USNA) 36 (1959–       )
224 Christopher W. Grady 4 May 2018  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMUSNAVYNORTH), 2018–2019.
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMUSNAVYNORTH/NAVSTRAT/JFMCC), 2019–2021.
  • Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2021–2025.
 7 1984 (NROTC) 34 (1962–       )
225 John C. Aquilino 17 May 2018  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2018–2021.
  • Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2021–2024.
 6 1984 (USNA) 34 (1961–       )
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  
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2019–2023.
 4 1985 (USNA) 34 (1962–       )
229 Charles A. Richard 18 Nov 2019  
  • Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2019–2022.
 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  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2021–2024.
  • Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2024–present.
 4 1987 (NROTC) 34 (1964–       )
232 Daryl L. Caudle 7 Dec 2021  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMUSNAVYNORTH/NAVSTRAT/JFMCC), 2021–2025.
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2025–present.
 4 1985 (OCS) 36 (1963–       )
233 Stuart B. Munsch 27 Jun 2022   3 1985 (USNA) 37 (1962–       )
234 Lisa M. Franchetti 2 Sep 2022   3 1985 (NROTC) 37 (1964–       ) Relieved, 2025.
235 James W. Kilby 5 Jan 2024   1 1986 (USNA) 38 (1963–       )
236 William J. Houston 10 Jan 2024  
  • Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2024–present.
 1 1990 (NROTC) 34 (1968–       )
237 Stephen T. Koehler 5 Apr 2024  
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2024–present.
 1 1986 (NROTC) 38 (1964–       )
238 Alvin Holsey 7 Nov 2024  
  • Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2024–2025.
 1 1988 (NROTC) 36 (1965–       ) Resigned, 2025.
239 Charles B. Cooper II 8 Aug 2025  
  • Commander, U.S. Central Command (CDRUSCENTCOM), 2025–present.
 0 1989 (USNA) 36 (1967–       )
240 Frank M. Bradley 3 Oct 2025  
  • Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), 2025–present.
 0 1991 (USNA) 34
241 George M. Wikoff 18 Nov 2025   0 1990 (NROTC) 35 (1968–       )
242 Karl O. Thomas 1 Dec 2025  
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2025–present.
 0 1986 (NROTC) 39 (1963–       )
243 Richard A. Correll 5 Dec 2025  
  • Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2025–present.
 0 1986 (NROTC) 39 (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 Notes
1 William L. Calhoun 16 Jun 1942   Dec 1946   1906 (USNA) (1885–1963) Great-grandson of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun.
2 Frank J. Fletcher 26 Jun 1942   May 1947   1906 (USNA) (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) (1883–1948) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945–1947.
4 John Howard Hoover 1 Jan 1943   Jul 1948   1906 (USNA) (1887–1970)
5 Alan G. Kirk 10 Sep 1944   Mar 1946   1909 (USNA) (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) (1889–1956)
7 Jesse B. Oldendorf 7 Dec 1944   Sep 1948   1909 (USNA) (1887–1974)
8 Arthur S. Carpender 3 Apr 1945   Nov 1946   1908 (USNA) (1884–1959) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948–19??
9 Harry W. Hill 22 Apr 1945   1952-05-00May 1952   1911 (USNA) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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

1866–1941

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

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

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

1941–1991

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. 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.

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.

1991–present

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

Legislation

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
  • Authorized 1 grade of admiral (David G. Farragut, David D. Porter) [terminated at next vacancy in 1873 (17 Stat. 418)].
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
  • Authorized promotion on the retired list or posthumously to highest grade held during World War I, with no increase in retired pay (Henry T. Mayo, William B. Caperton, William S. Benson, William S. Sims, Henry B. Wilson Jr., Hugh Rodman, Albert Gleaves, Robert E. Coontz, Joseph Strauss, Hilary P. Jones).
Act of December 14, 1944  58 Stat. 802
  • Authorized 4 grades of fleet admiral until six months after the end of World War II [made permanent in 1946 (60 Stat. 59)] (William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, Chester W. Nimitz, William F. Halsey Jr.).
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
  • Authorized promotion of Hyman G. Rickover to admiral on the retired list.
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

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, archived from the original on 5 October 2001
  • 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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