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

There have been 249 four-star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. Of these, 208 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: 223 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 15 via Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), 8 via Officer Candidate School (OCS), 2 via warrant, 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]

The list is sortable by last name, date of rank, number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank, year commissioned, and number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank.

# Name Date of rank [1] Position Yrs [3] Commission[4] YC [5] 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 02 Mar 1899   Commander, Asiatic Station, 1898–1899; President, General Board of the Navy, 1900–1917. 18 1858 (USNA) 41 (1837–1917) Promoted to The Admiral of the Navy, 24 Mar 1903, with date of rank 02 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) [7] 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) [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 09 Jul 1915   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1915–1917. 2 1877 (USNA) 42 (1856–1920) [7]
8 Cameron M. Winslow 13 Sep 1915   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1915–1916. 1 1875 (USNA) 40 (1854–1932) [7]
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) [7][8] 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) [7][8] 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)[9] 39 (1855–1932) [7][8] Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Shipping Board, 1919–1928.
12 Austin M. Knight 04 Apr 1917   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1917–1918. 1 1873 (USNA)[9] 44 (1854–1927) [7] Brother of Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes.
13 William S. Sims 04 Dec 1918   Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, 1917–1919. 2 1880 (USNA)[9] 38 (1858–1936) [7][8] 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)[9] 38 (1861–1954) [7][8] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1921–1925. Father-in-law of U.S. Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley.
15 Hugh Rodman 01 Jul 1919   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1919–1921. 2 1880 (USNA)[9] 39 (1859–1940) [7][8] U.S. Minister and Envoy to Peru, 1921.
16 Albert Gleaves 01 Sep 1919   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1919–1921. 2 1877 (USNA)[9] 42 (1858–1937) [7][8] Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928–1931.
17 Robert E. Coontz 01 Nov 1919   Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1919–1923; Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1923–1925. 6 1885 (USNA)[9] 34 (1864–1935) [7][8] Governor of Guam, 1912–1913.
18 Joseph Strauss 04 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   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1921–1922; Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1922–1923. 2 1884 (USNA)[9] 37 (1865–1939) [7][8]
20 Edward W. Eberle 05 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)[9] 36 (1864–1929) [7] 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) [7][10] Military Governor of Santo Domingo, 1921–1922; Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1928–1931; Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1931–1948. Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Charles F. Hughes.
23 Thomas Washington 11 Oct 1923   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1923–1925. 2 1887 (USNA)[9] 36 (1865–1954) [7][10] 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)[9] 37 (1866–1934) [7] Brother-in-law of Navy four-star admiral Samuel S. Robison; daughter married brother of Navy five-star admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
25 Clarence S. Williams 14 Oct 1925   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1925–1927. 2 1884 (USNA)[9] 41 (1863–1951) [7][10]
26 Richard H. Jackson 04 Sep 1926   Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1926–1927. 1 1887 (USNA)[9] 39 (1866–1971) [7][10] Distant cousin of Air Force four-star general Charles P. Cabell.
27 Henry A. Wiley 08 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 09 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   Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1927–1928. 1 1889 (USNA)[9] 38 (1867–1947) [7][10]
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)[9] 39 (1869–1957) [7][11]
31 Louis M. Nulton 21 May 1929   Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1929–1930. 1 1889 (USNA)[9] 40 (1869–1954) [7][10] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1925–1928.
32 Charles B. McVay Jr. 09 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]
35 Montgomery M. Taylor 01 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) [7][10] Governor of Guam, 1907.
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)[9] 38 (1872–1963) [7][11][12] U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1942–1943.
39 David F. Sellers 10 Jun 1933   Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1933–1934. 1 1894 (USNA)[9] 39 (1874–1949) [7][10] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1934–1938.
40 Joseph M. Reeves 01 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) [7] Married aunt of Navy four-star admiral Robert B. Carney.
42 Frank H. Brumby 15 Jun 1934   Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1934–1935. 1 1895 (USNA)[9] 39 (1874–1950) [7][10]
43 Harris Laning 01 Apr 1935   Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1935–1936. 1 1895 (USNA)[9] 40 (1873–1941) [7] Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1937–1941.
44 Orin G. Murfin 04 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   Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1936–1937; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1937–1939; Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Army and Navy, 1942–1949; Special duty, 1949–1959. 10 1897 (USNA)[9] 39 (1875–1959) [14] Promoted to fleet admiral, 15 Dec 1944. Governor of Puerto Rico, 1939–1940; U.S. Ambassador to France, 1941–1942. Wife's niece married Navy four-star admiral David W. Bagley.
46 Arthur J. Hepburn 24 Jun 1936   Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1936–1938. 2 1897 (USNA)[9] 39 (1877–1964) [7][10]
47 Harry E. Yarnell 30 Oct 1936   Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1936–1939. 3 1897 (USNA)[9] 39 (1875–1959) [7][10][15]
48 Claude C. Bloch 02 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]
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) [17] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1931–1934; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1945–1946.
52 Harold R. Stark 01 Aug 1939   Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1939–1942; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR), 1942–1945. 6 1903 (USNA)[9] 36 (1880–1972)
53 Charles P. Snyder 06 Jan 1940   Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1940–1941. 1 1900 (USNA)[9] 40 (1879–1964) [7][16]
54 Husband E. Kimmel 01 Feb 1941   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, 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 01 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; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1945; Special duty, 1945–1956. 4 1901 (USNA)[9] 40 (1878–1956) Promoted to fleet admiral, 17 Dec 1944. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1946. Father-in-law of Air Force four-star general Frederic H. Smith Jr.
56 Chester W. Nimitz 31 Dec 1941   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; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1945–1947; Special duty, 1947–1966. 6 1905 (USNA)[9] 36 (1885–1966) Promoted to fleet admiral, 19 Dec 1944. Brother married daughter of Navy four-star admiral Charles F. Hughes.
57 Royal E. Ingersoll 01 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)[9] 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; Special duty, 1945–1947. 3 1904 (USNA)[9] 38 (1882–1959) Promoted to fleet admiral, 04 Dec 1945.
59 Raymond A. Spruance 16 Feb 1944   Commander, Central Pacific Force (COMCENPACFOR), 1943–1944; Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), 1944–1945; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1945–1946; President, Naval War College, 1946–1948. 4 1906 (USNA)[9] 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)[9] 35 (1886–1952) Commissioner, All-America Football Conference, 1947–1949. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914.
61 Frederick J. Horne 15 Dec 1944   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1942–1945. 1 1899 (USNA)[9] 45 (1880–1959)
62 Richard S. Edwards Jr. 03 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)[9] 38 (1885–1956)
63 H. Kent Hewitt 03 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)[9] 38 (1887–1972)
64 Thomas C. Kinkaid 03 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)[9] 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)[9] 37 (1885–1961)
66 Samuel M. Robinson 27 Aug 1945   Director, Office of Procurement and Material, 1942–1946. 1 1903 (USNA)[9] 42 (1882–1972) Administrator, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1946–1951. First engineering officer to attain rank of admiral.
* John S. McCain Sr. 06 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 07 Nov 1945   Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), 1945–1946; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1946–1947; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947; Chairman, General Board of the Navy, 1947. 2 1906 (USNA)[9] 39 (1885–1955)
68 DeWitt C. Ramsey 28 Dec 1945   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1946–1948; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1948–1949. 4 1912 (USNA) 33 (1888–1961)
69 Louis E. Denfeld 07 Jan 1946   Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1947–1949. 2 1912 (USNA) 34 (1891–1972) [18] Candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, 1950. Relieved, 1949.
70 Charles M. Cooke Jr. 08 Jan 1946   Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 1946–1947; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Western Pacific (COMNAVWESPAC), 1947–1948. 2 1910 (USNA)[9] 36 (1886–1970)
71 Marc A. Mitscher 01 Mar 1946   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1946–1947. 1 1910 (USNA)[9] 36 (1887–1947) Died in office.
72 Ben Moreell 11 Jun 1946   Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1946. 0 1917 (CEC) 29 (1892–1978) First staff corps officer to attain rank of admiral.
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, Long Island University, 1953–1962.
74 William H.P. Blandy 03 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 07 Apr 1949   Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1949–1951; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1951–1953; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1953–1957. 8 1916 (USNA) 33 (1896–1973) Married aunt of Army four-star general Michael S. Davison.
76 Forrest P. Sherman 02 Nov 1949   Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1949–1951. 2 1917 (USNA) 32 (1896–1951) Died in office.
77 William M. Fechteler 01 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 02 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) [20]
80 Donald B. Duncan 09 Aug 1951   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1951–1956. 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 06 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 07 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 06 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 01 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 01 Sep 1956   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1956–1958; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1958–1964. 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) [19]
89 James L. Holloway Jr. 01 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 01 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   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1958–1961; Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1961–1965. 7 1926 (USNA) 32 (1903–1996)
92 Charles R. Brown 01 Jan 1959   Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1959–1961. 2 1921 (USNA) 38 (1899–1983)
93 Robert L. Dennison 01 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 01 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 01 Mar 1960   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1960–1963. 3 1925 (USNA) 35 (1904–1978)
96 George W. Anderson Jr. 01 Aug 1961   Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1961–1963. 2 1927 (USNA) 34 (1906–1992) U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, 1961–1963.
97 Claude V. Ricketts 01 Nov 1961   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1961–1964. 3 1929 (USNA) 32 (1906–1964) Died in office.
98 David L. McDonald 01 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   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1964–1968; Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1968–1972. 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. 01 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 (CINCLANTFLT), 1967–1970. 3 1930 (USNA) 37 (1908–1997)
109 John J. Hyland Jr. 01 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   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1968–1970; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1970–1973. 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. 01 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 01 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 01 Jul 1971   Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1971–1973. 2 1937 (USNA) 34 (1913–1999)
117 Isaac C. Kidd Jr. 01 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 01 Jun 1972   Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1972–1973. 1 1937 (USNA) 35 (1915–1973)
119 Noel A.M. Gayler 01 Sep 1972   Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1972–1976. 4 1935 (USNA) 37 (1914–       ) Director, National Security Agency, 1969–1972.
120 Maurice F. Weisner 01 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 01 Sep 1973   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1973–1974; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1974–1978. 5 1942 (USNA) 31 (1922–       ) Son of Navy four-star admiral James L. Holloway Jr.
122 Worth H. Bagley 01 Sep 1973   Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1973–1974; Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1974–1975. 2 1947 (USNA) 26 (1924–       ) 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, Division of Nuclear Reactors, 1948–1982. 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), 1978–1980. 6 1942 (USNA) 32 (1918–1999) Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, 1981–1985.
126 John P. Weinel 02 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 01 Sep 1975   Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1975–1977; Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), 1977–1981. 4 1946 (USNA) 29 (1923–       )
130 Daniel J. Murphy 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 , 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–       )
132 Robert L.J. Long 05 Jul 1977   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1977–1979; Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1979–1983. 6 1943 (USNA) 34 (1920–2002)
133 Donald C. Davis 09 May 1978   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1978–1981. 3 1943 (USNA) 35 (1921–1998)
134 Alfred J. Whittle Jr. 01 Aug 1978   Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1978–1981. 3 1945 (USNA) 33 (1924–1993)
135 Harry D. Train II 01 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–       ) 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) 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, National Security Agency, 1977–1981. First naval intelligence specialist to attain rank of admiral.
139 William N. Small 01 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–       )
140 John G. Williams Jr. 01 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–       )
142 Kinnaird R. McKee 02 Mar 1982   Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion/Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08), 1982–1988. 6 1951 (USNA) 31 (1929–       ) 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–       ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, 1985–1988.
144 Wesley L. McDonald 01 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   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1983–1985; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1985–1988. 5 1950 (USNA) 33 (1928–       )
146 Steven A. White 01 Aug 1983   Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1983–1985. 2 1952 (NROTC) 31 (1928–       ) 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–       )
149 Carlisle A.H. Trost 04 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–       )
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 (NROTC) 31 (1932–       ) 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)
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–       )
153 Huntington Hardisty 11 Mar 1987   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1987–1988; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1988–1991. 4 1952 (USNA) 35 (1929–2003)
154 Powell F. Carter Jr. 01 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–       )
155 David E. Jeremiah 01 Oct 1987   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1987–1990; Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS), 1990–1994. 7 1955 (OCS) 32 (1934–       )
156 Leon A. Edney 01 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 01 Nov 1988   Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion/Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08), 1988–1996. 8 1957 (USNA) 31 (1935–       )
158 James R. Hogg 01 Dec 1988   U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1988–1991. 3 1956 (USNA) 32 (1934–       )
159 Jonathan T. Howe 01 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 01 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–       ) [23] Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1983–1986; Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, 2002.
161 Jerome L. Johnson 01 Jul 1990   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1990–1992. 2 1956 (NROTC) 34 (1935–       )
162 Paul David Miller 01 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–       )
164 Robert J. Kelly 01 Mar 1991   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1991–1994. 3 1959 (USNA) 32 (1938–       )
165 Jeremy M. Boorda 02 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 09 Apr 1992   Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1992–1995. 3 1962 (NROTC) 30 (1940–       ) Director, National Security Agency, 1988–1992.
167 Stanley R. Arthur 06 Jul 1992   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1992–1995. 3 1957 (NROTC) 35 (1935–       ) [24]
168 Henry H. Mauz Jr. 01 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 01 Mar 1994   Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS), 1994–1996. 2 1962 (USNA) 32 (1940–       )
171 Leighton W. Smith Jr. 01 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 01 Oct 1994   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1994–1996. 2 1960 (USNA) 34 (1938–       ) [7] Relieved, 1996.
173 Ronald J. Zlatoper 05 Oct 1994   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1994–1996. 2 1963 (NROTC) 31 (1941–       )
174 William J. Flanagan Jr. 01 Nov 1994   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1994–1996 2 1964 (MMA)[25] 30 (1943–       )
175 Joseph W. Prueher 01 Jun 1995   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1995–1996; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1996–1999. 4 1964 (USNA) 31 (1942–       ) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1999–2001.
176 Jay L. Johnson 01 Apr 1996   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1996; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1996–2000. 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 01 Oct 1996   Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion/Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08), 1996–2004. 8 1966 (NROTC) 30 (1944–       )
179 Harold W. Gehman Jr. 01 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 01 Jan 1997   Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1996–1999. 2 1966 (NROTC) 31 (1943–       )
181 J. Paul Reason 01 Feb 1997   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1996–1999. 2 1965 (USNA) 32 (1941–       )
182 Donald L. Pilling 30 Oct 1997   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1997–2000. 3 1965 (USNA) 32 (1943–       )
183 Richard W. Mies 01 Aug 1998   Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1998–2001. 3 1967 (USNA) 31 (1944–       )
184 Charles S. Abbot 01 Sep 1998   Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1998–2000. 2 1966 (USNA) 32 (1945–       ) Deputy Director, , 2001–2003.
185 James O. Ellis 01 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 01 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 01 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 01 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 01 Sep 2000   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 2000–2001; Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Fleet Forces Command (CINCLANTFLT/COMFLTFORCOM), 2001–2002; Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMFLTFORCOM/COMLANTFLT), 2002–2003. 3 1967 (USNA) 33 (1945–       )
190 William J. Fallon 01 Nov 2000   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2000–2003; Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMFLTFORCOM/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 04 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. 02 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 (VCJCS), 2005–2007. 5 1970 (USNA) 32 (1948–       )
194 Michael G. Mullen 28 Aug 2003   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2003–2004; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2004–2005; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2005–2007; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 2007–present. 7 1968 (USNA) 35 (1946–       )
195 John B. Nathman 01 Dec 2004   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2004–2005; Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMFLTFORCOM/COMLANTFLT), 2005–2006; Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2006–2007. 3 1970 (USNA) 34 (1948–       )
196 Timothy J. Keating 01 Jan 2005   Commander, U.S. Northern Command/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 01 Jan 2005   Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion/Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors (NAVSEA 08), 2004–present. 6 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–present. 5 1973 (USNA) 32 (1950–       )
199 Henry G. Ulrich III 22 Jul 2005   Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2005–2007. 2 1972 (USNA) 33 (1950–       )
200 Gary Roughead 01 Sep 2005   Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2005–2007; Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2007; Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2007–present. 5 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–present. 4 1976 (USNA) 30 (1955–       )
202 Patrick M. Walsh Apr 2007   Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2007–2009; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2009–present. 3 1977 (USNA) 30 (1955–       )
203 Eric T. Olson 06 Jul 2007   Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), 2007–present. 3 1973 (USNA) 34 (1952–       ) First Navy SEAL to achieve the grade of four-star admiral.
204 Jonathan W. Greenert Sep 2007   Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2007–2009; Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2009–present. 3 1975 (USNA) 32 (1953–       )
205 Mark P. Fitzgerald 30 Nov 2007   Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2007–2009; Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMUSNAVAF/COMJFC Naples), 2009–present. 3 1973 (NROTC) 34 (1951–       )
206 John C. Harvey Jr. 24 Jul 2009   Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM), 2009–present. 1 1973 (USNA) 36 (1951–       )
207 James A. Winnefeld, Jr. 19 May 2010   Commander, U.S. Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CDRUSNORTHCOM/CDRNORAD), 2009–present. 0 1978 (NROTC) 32 (1956–       )
208 Samuel J. Locklear III   Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMUSNAVAF/COMJFC Naples)[26] 0 1977 (USNA) -- (1954–       )

Tombstone admirals[]

The Act of Congress of March 4, 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 the prestige of the higher rank but not the additional retirement pay, so their only practical benefit was to allow recipients to engrave a loftier title on their business cards and tombstones. The Act of Congress of February 23, 1942 enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Tombstone promotions were subsequently restricted to citations issued before January 1, 1947, and finally eliminated altogether effective November 1, 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.

The following list of tombstone admirals is sortable by last name, date of rank as vice admiral, date retired, and year commissioned.

Name Date of rank (VADM) Date retired Commission [4] Notes
1 William L. Calhoun 16 Jun 1942   Dec 1946   1906 (USNA)[9] (1885–1963) [27] Great-grandson of John C. Calhoun.
2 Frank J. Fletcher 26 Jun 1942   May 1947   1906 (USNA)[9] (1885–1973) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Frank F. Fletcher.
3 Aubrey W. Fitch 28 Dec 1942   Jul 1947   1906 (USNA)[9] (1883–1948) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945–1947.
4 John H. Hoover 01 Jan 1943   Jul 1948   1906 (USNA)[9] (1887–1970)
5 Alan G. Kirk 10 Sep 1944   Mar 1946   1909 (USNA)[9] (1888–1963) U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1946–1947; to Soviet Union, 1949–1952; to China, 1962–1963.
6 George D. Murray 29 Nov 1944   Aug 1951   1911 (USNA)[9] (1889–1956)
7 Jesse B. Oldendorf 07 Dec 1944   Sep 1948   1909 (USNA)[9] (1887–1974)
8 Arthur S. Carpender 03 Apr 1945   Nov 1946   1908 (USNA)[9] (1884–1959) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948–19??
9 Harry W. Hill 22 Apr 1945   1952-05-00May 1952   1911 (USNA)[9] (1890–1971) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1950–1952; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1952–1954.
10 Frederick C. Sherman 13 Jul 1945   Mar 1947   1910 (USNA)[9] (1880–1957)
11 John L. Hall Jr. 10 Dec 1945   May 1953   1913 (USNA) (1891–1978)
12 Oscar C. Badger II 13 Dec 1945   Jun 1952   1911 (USNA)[9] (1890–1958) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Cousin of U.S. Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger.
13 John D. Price 31 Aug 1946   Jun 1954   1916 (USNA) (1892–1957)
14 Francis S. Low 12 Mar 1947   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA) (1894–1964)
15 David W. Bagley 01 Apr 1947   Apr 1947   1904 (USNA)[9] (1883–1960) Father of Navy four-star admiral David H. Bagley and Navy four-star admiral Worth H. Bagley; grandson of North Carolina Governor Jonathan Worth; aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels; wife's aunt married Navy five-star admiral William D. Leahy.
16 Harold B. Sallada 11 May 1947   Oct 1949   1917 (USNA) (1895–1977)
17 Arthur D. Struble 26 Apr 1948   Jul 1956   1915 (USNA)[28] (1894–1983)
18 Russell S. Berkey 01 Jul 1948   Sep 1950   1916 (USNA) (1893–1984)
19 John W. Reeves, Jr. 01 Apr 1949   May 1950   1911 (USNA)[9] (1888–1967) General Manager, Los Angeles International Airport, 1950–1952.
20 C. Turner Joy 01 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 01 Nov 1949   May 1954   1917 (USNA) (1896–1970)
23 Matthias B. Gardner 01 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 01 Feb 1951   Feb 1956   1919 (USNA) (1896–1972)
26 Arthur C. Davis 12 Feb 1951   Apr 1955   1915 (USNA) (1893–1965)
27 Laurence T. DuBose 30 Mar 1951   Jun 1955   1913 (USNA) (1893–1967)
28 James Fife Jr. 09 Aug 1951   Aug 1955   1918 (USNA) (1897–1975) Director, Mystic Seaport, 1956–19??
29 Frank G. Fahrion 28 Dec 1951   May 1956   1917 (USNA) (1894–1970)
30 Joseph J. Clark 07 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 09 Oct 1953   Oct 1959   1918 (OCS)[29] (1897–1988)
35 Edmund T. Wooldridge 06 Apr 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA) (1897–1968)
36 Austin K. Doyle 07 May 1954   Aug 1958   1920 (USNA) (1898–1970)
37 Stuart S. Murray 07 Dec 1955   Aug 1956   1918 (USNA) (1898–1980) Nephew of Oklahoma governor William H. Murray.
38 Cato D. Glover Jr. 08 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 01 Nov 1957   Oct 1958   1921 (USNA) (1900–1977)

Timeline[]

Four-star positions[]

1866 - 1940[]

The rank of admiral was created in 1866 to honor the Civil War achievements of David G. 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 The 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 March 3, 1915 provided that the commanders in chief of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Asiatic Fleets would have the rank of admiral while so serving, and their seconds in command the rank of vice admiral. In 1916, the chief of naval operations was also made an admiral while so serving, ranking next after The Admiral of the Navy. The ranks of admiral and vice admiral were strictly temporary appointments for the duration of an officer's tour in designated billets, and the temporary admiral reverted to his permanent grade of rear admiral immediately upon vacating the office bearing the title.

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

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

1941 - present[]

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.[30] The rank of fleet admiral was created in 1944, and the four officers promoted to that grade were allowed to remain on active duty permanently.

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

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

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 (VCJCS). 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.

Samuel 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 L. 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 D. Miller (admiral)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. Leahy

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Dates of rank are taken, where available, from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, or from the U.S. Navy register of active and retired commissioned officers, or from the World Almanac and Book of Facts. The date listed is that of the officer's first promotion to admiral, and may differ from the officer's entry in the U.S. Navy register, which lists admirals who reverted to their permanent ranks of rear admiral as ranking from the date of the legislation that ultimately restored them to the rank of admiral, not from the dates of their original appointments.
  2. 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. 3.0 3.1 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. 4.0 4.1 4.2 The year commissioned is taken to be the year the officer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, or equivalent, which may precede the officer's actual date of commission by up to two years. Prior to 1912, graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy were required by law to serve two years at sea as passed midshipmen before receiving their commission as ensign. Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), warrant; the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), and the United States Military Academy (USMA).
  5. 5.0 5.1 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. 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. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 7.39 7.40 7.41 7.42 7.43 7.44 7.45 7.46 7.47 7.48 Reverted to permanent rank of rear admiral upon vacating an office bearing the temporary rank of admiral.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 21 Jun 1930, as highest grade held during World War I.
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 9.32 9.33 9.34 9.35 9.36 9.37 9.38 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 9.43 9.44 9.45 9.46 9.47 9.48 9.49 9.50 9.51 9.52 9.53 9.54 9.55 9.56 9.57 9.58 9.59 9.60 9.61 9.62 9.63 9.64 9.65 9.66 9.67 9.68 9.69 9.70 9.71 9.72 Commissioned as ensign after two years of sea duty.
  10. 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 16 Jun 1942, as highest rank held on the active list.
  11. 11.0 11.1 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, 01 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, 06 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. 16.0 16.1 16.2 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 07 Jan 1946.
  19. 19.0 19.1 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, Dec 1973, with date of rank 16 Nov 1973.
  22. Nomination as U.S. Secretary of Defense withdrawn, 1994.
  23. 23.0 23.1 In 1994, special legislation authorized Charles R. Larson to resume the superintendency of the U.S. Naval Academy, then a two-star billet, as a full admiral.
  24. Nomination as commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) withdrawn, 1994.
  25. Transferred from U.S. Merchant Marine, 1967.
  26. Nominated, July 12, 2010.
  27. Retired as vice admiral, Dec 1946; advanced to admiral on the retired list by reason of combat citation, Jan 1954.
  28. [1] Struble entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911 and received his commission in 1915.
  29. Transferred from U.S. Naval Reserve, 1921.
  30. Act of Congress of July 16, 1942.

References[]

  • Heaton, Dean R. (1995). "Four Stars: The Super Stars of United States Military History". Gateway Press. 
  • Reynolds, Clark G. (1978). "Famous American Admirals". Naval Institute Press. 
  • U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel (1945, 1950-1984). "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps". 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". Department of the Navy. 


  • Wheeler, Gerald E. (1974). "Admiral William Veazie Pratt, U.S. Navy: A Sailor's Life". U.S. Government Printing Office. 
  • "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". World Almanac Education Group, Inc.. 1946-1947, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006. 

See also[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at List of United States Navy four-star admirals and the edit history here.
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