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,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. active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank,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. number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs),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. year commissioned and source of commission,The year commissioned is taken to be the year the officer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, or equivalent, which may precede the officer's actual date of commission by up to two years. Prior to 1912, graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy were required by law to serve two years at sea as passed midshipmen before receiving their commission as ensign. Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the United States Naval Academy (USNA), Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), Officer Candidate School (OCS), warrant; the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), and the United States Military Academy (USMA). number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC),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. and other biographical notes.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.
# Name Photo Date of rank Position Yrs Commission YC Notes 1 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 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 Commander, Asiatic Station, 1898–1899. President, General Board of the Navy, 1900–1917. 18 1858 (USNA) 41 (1837–1917) Promoted to admiral, 8 Mar 1899 but was promoted to Admiral of the Navy, 24 Mar 1903, with retroactive date of rank 2 Mar 1899. Candidate for Democratic Party nomination for U.S. President, 1900. 4 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1914–1916. 2 1875 (USNA) 40 (1855–1928)Reverted to permanent rank of rear admiral upon vacating an office bearing the temporary rank of admiral. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Frank J. Fletcher. 5 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1914–1915. 1 1873 (USNA) 42 (1854–1920) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Observatory, 1917–1919. 6 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1914–1915. 1 1873 (USNA) 42 (1853–1917) 7 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1915–1917. 2 1877 (USNA) 38 (1856–1920) 8 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1915–1916. 1 1875 (USNA) 40 (1854–1932) 9 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1916–1919. 3 1875 (USNA) 41 (1855–1941)Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 21 Jun 1930, as highest grade held during World War I. Special Representative of the President in Brazil, 1918. 11 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1915–1919. 3 1877 (USNA)Commissioned as ensign after two years of sea duty. 39 (1855–1932) Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Shipping Board, 1919–1928. 12 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 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 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 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1919–1921. 2 1877 (USNA) 42 (1858–1937) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928–1931. 17 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1921–1922. 1 1885 (USNA) 36 (1861–1948) 19 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 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1922–1923. 1 1882 (USNA) 40 (1860–1933) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. 22 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1923–1925. 2 1887 (USNA) 36 (1865–1954)Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 16 Jun 1942, as highest rank held on the active list. Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1931–1937. 24 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1925–1927. 2 1884 (USNA) 41 (1863–1951) President, Naval War College, 1922–1925. 26 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 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1927–1929. 2 1888 (USNA) 39 (1867–1943) Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Maritime Commission, 1936–1940. 28 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1927–1929. 2 1887 (USNA) 40 (1868–1939) U.S. High Commissioner, Turkey, 1919–1927. 29 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1927–1928. 1 1889 (USNA) 38 (1867–1947) 30 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)Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 14 Aug 1938, as highest rank held while Chief of Naval Operations. President, Naval War College, 1925–1927. 31 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1929–1930. 1 1889 (USNA) 40 (1869–1954) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1925–1928. 32 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1929–1931. 2 1890 (USNA) 39 (1868–1949) 33 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 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 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 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 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 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1933–1937. 4 1895 (USNA) 38 (1872–1963)Retired as rear admiral, 1 Jan 1937; advanced to admiral on the retired list, 14 Aug 1938; recalled as admiral, 13 Feb 1941; retired, 11 Feb 1942; recalled as admiral, 12 Apr 1944; retired, 31 Aug 1945. U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1942–1943. 39 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1933–1934. 1 1894 (USNA) 39 (1874–1949) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1934–1938. 40 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933–1934.