The rank of vice admiral (or three-star admiral) is the second-highest rank normally achievable in the United States Navy, and the first to have a specified number of appointments set by statute. It ranks above rear admiral (two-star admiral) and below admiral (four-star admiral).
There have been 58 vice admirals in the U.S. Navy since 1 January 2020, six of whom were promoted to four-star admiral. All 57 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Admirals entered the Navy via several paths: 27 were commissioned via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian university, 23 via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), four via Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), two via Officer Candidate School (OCS), one via direct commission (direct), and one via the California State University Maritime Academy (CSU Maritime).
List of admirals Entries in the following list of vice 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 three-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes.
+ List of U.S. Navy vice admirals since 2020 # Name Photo Position Yrs Commission YC Notes 1 Randy B. Crites 15 May 2020 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (DCNO N8), 2020–2023. 3 1985 (OCS) 35 2 Yancy B. Lindsey 29 May 2020 Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), 2020–2023. 3 1986 (AOCS) 34 (1962–) 3 Eugene H. Black III 1 Jun 2020 Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet/Commander, Task Force Six/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe (COMSIXTHFLT/CTF-6/COMSTRIKFORNATO/DCOMCNE-CNA/JFMCC Europe), 2020–2022. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Operations, Plans and Strategy (DCNO N3/N5), 2022–2024. 4 1986 (USNA) 34 (1964–) 4 Jeffrey E. Trussler 5 Jun 2020 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Information Warfare/Director of Naval Intelligence (DCNO N2/N6/DNI), 2020–2023. 3 1985 (NROTC) 35 (1963–) 5 William J. Galinis 19 Jun 2020 Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA), 2020–2023. 3 1983 (USNA) 37 (1961–) 6 Michelle C. Skubic 24 Jul 2020 Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DIRDLA), 2020–2024. 4 1988 (NROTC) 32 (1966–) Supply Corps. 7 3 Aug 2020 Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR/COMNAVSURFPAC), 2020–2023. 3 1984 (NROTC) 36 (1962–) 8 John B. Mustin 7 Aug 2020 Chief, U.S. Navy Reserve/Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNR/CNRF), 2020–2024. 4 1990 (USNA) 30 (1967–) Son of Navy vice admiral Henry C. Mustin; grandson of Navy vice admiral Lloyd M. Mustin; step-great grandson of Navy four-star admiral George D. Murray. * Samuel J. Paparo Jr. 19 Aug 2020 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2020–2021. 1 1987 (NROTC) 33 (1964–) Promoted to admiral, 5 May 2021. 9 2 Oct 2020 Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRFOR/COMNAVAIRPAC), 2020–2023. 3 1985 (AOCS) 35 (1961–) 10 Jeffrey W. Hughes 1 Feb 2021 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Development (DCNO N7), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development, Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (DCOFS-CD), 2024–present. 4 1988 (NROTC) 33 (1966–) 11 C. Bradford Cooper II 5 May 2021 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2021–2024. Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (DCDRUSCENTCOM), 2024–2025. 4 1989 (USNA) 32 (1967–) Promoted to admiral, 8 Aug 2025. 12 Kelly A. Aeschbach 7 May 2021 Commander, Naval Information Forces (COMNAVIFOR), 2021–2024. 3 1990 (NROTC) 31 (1968–) * Stephen T. Koehler 3 Jun 2021 Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2021–2022. Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, J5/Senior Member, U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Military Staff Committee (Sr. Member MSC), 2022–2024. 3 1986 (NROTC) 35 (1964–) Promoted to admiral, 4 Apr 2024. 13 John V. Fuller 11 Jun 2021 Naval Inspector General (NAVIG), 2021–2025. 4 1987 (USNA) 34 (1965–) 14 Karl O. Thomas 8 Jul 2021 Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Information Warfare/Director of Naval Intelligence (DCNO N2/N6/DNI), 2024–2025. 3 1986 (NROTC) 35 (1963–) Promoted to admiral, 1 Dec 2025. 15 Frank D. Whitworth III Director, Intelligence, Joint Staff, J2, 2019–2022. Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (DIRNGA), 2022–present. 4 1989 (NROTC) 32 (1967–) Brother-in-law of Navy vice admiral Darse E. Crandall Jr. 16 Francis D. Morley 4 Aug 2021 Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition) (PMD ASN(RDA)), 2021–2024. 3 1988 (NROTC) 33 (1966–) 17 Darse E. Crandall Jr. 18 Aug 2021 Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy/U.S. Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (JAG/REPOPA), 2021–2024. 3 1984 (NROTC) 37 (1962–) Judge Advocate General's Corps. Brother-in-law of Navy vice admiral Frank D. Whitworth III. 18 Daniel W. Dwyer 20 Aug 2021 Commander, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Command - Norfolk/Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (COMSECONDFLT/CDRJFC-NF/DIRCJOS COE), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Development (DCNO N7), 2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (DCNO N3/N5/N7), 2024–2025. 4 1988 (CSU Maritime) 33 (1966–) 19 Carl P. Chebi 9 Sep 2021 Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (COMNAVAIR), 2021–2025. 4 1987 (NROTC) 34 (1965–) * William J. Houston 10 Sep 2021 Commander, Submarine Forces/Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic/Commander, Allied Submarine Command/Commander, Task Force 114/Commander, Task Force 88/Commander, Task Force 46 (COMSUBFOR/COMSUBLANT/COMASC/CTF-114/CTF-88/CTF-46), 2021–2023. 2 1990 (NROTC) 31 (1968–) Promoted to admiral, 10 Jan 2024. 20 Collin P. Green 16 Dec 2021 Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (DCDRUSSOCOM), 2021–2024. 3 1986 (USNA) 35 (1962–) Navy SEAL. 21 Sara A. Joyner 3 Jun 2022 Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, J8, 2022–present. 3 1989 (USNA) 33 (1967–) 22 Richard J. Cheeseman Jr. 3 Jun 2022 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel, Manpower and Training/Chief of Naval Personnel (DCNO N1/CNP), 2022–2025. 3 1989 (NROTC) 33 (1966–) 23 Michael E. Boyle 16 Jun 2022 Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2022–2024. Director, Navy Staff (DNS/N09B), 2024–present. 3 1987 (NROTC) 35 (1965–) 24 Craig A. Clapperton 4 Aug 2022 Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) (COMFCC/COMTENTHFLT/CDRJFHQ-C), 2022–2023. Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet/Commander, Navy Space Command/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) (COMFCC/COMTENTHFLT/COMNAVSPACECOM/CDRJFHQ-C), 2023–present. 3 1989 (NROTC) 33 (1967–) 25 Frank M. Bradley 10 Aug 2022 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRJSOC/CDRJSOC-F), 2022–2025. 3 1991 (USNA) 31 (–) Navy SEAL. Promoted to admiral, 3 Oct 2025. 26 Thomas E. Ishee 15 Sep 2022 Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet/Commander, Task Force Six/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe (COMSIXTHFLT/CTF-6/COMSTRIKFORNATO/DCOMCNE-CNA/JFMCC Europe), 2022–2024. 2 1988 (OCS) 34 (1965–) 27 Richard A. Correll 1 Dec 2022 Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (DCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2022–2025. 3 1986 (NROTC) 36 (1964–) Promoted to admiral, 5 Dec 2025. 28 John F.G. Wade 1 Dec 2022 Commander, Joint Task Force - Red Hill (CDRJTF-RH), 2022–2024. Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2024–2026. Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, 2026-present. 3 1990 (USNA) 32 (1968–) * Alvin Holsey 1 Feb 2023 Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (MILDEPUSSOUTHCOM), 2023–2024. 1 1988 (NROTC) 35 (1965–) Promoted to admiral, 7 Nov 2024. 29 James E. Pitts 5 Dec 2023 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (DCNO N9), 2023–present. 2 1986 (USNA) 37 (1964–) 30 Jeffrey T. Jablon 5 Dec 2023 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Installations and Logistics (DCNO N4), 2023–present. 2 1987 (NROTC) 36 (1964–) 31 Blake L. Converse 5 Dec 2023 Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (DCOMPACFLT), 2021–present. 2 1987 (NROTC) 36 (1965–) 32 Shoshana S. Chatfield 13 Dec 2023 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 2023–2025. 2 1987 (NROTC) 36 (1965–) Relieved, 2025. President, Naval War College, 2019–2023. 33 C. Scott Gray 18 Dec 2023 Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), 2023–present. 2 1989 (AOCS) 34 (1964–) 34 Brendan R. McLane 21 Dec 2023 Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR/COMNAVSURFPAC), 2023–2026. 2 1990 (USNA) 33 (1968–) 35 John B. Skillman 22 Dec 2023 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (DCNO N8), 2023–present. 2 1986 (USNA) 37 (1964–) 36 Robert M. Gaucher 28 Dec 2023 Commander, Submarine Forces/Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic/Commander, Allied Submarine Command/Commander, Task Force 114/Commander, Task Force 88/Commander, Task Force 46 (COMSUBFOR/COMSUBLANT/COMASC/CTF-114/CTF-88/CTF-46), 2023–2026. Submarine Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, 2026-present. 2 1991 (USNA) 32 37 James P. Downey 3 Jan 2024 Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA), 2024–present. 1 1987 (NROTC) 37 (1964–) 38 Yvette M. Davids 11 Jan 2024 Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 2024–2025. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (DCNO N3/N5/N7), 2025–present. 1 1989 (USNA) 35 (1967–) Wife of Navy rear admiral Keith B. Davids. 39 John E. Gumbleton 12 Jan 2024 Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Commander, Task Force 80 (DCOMUSFF/DCOMUSNAVNORTH/DCOMUSNAVSTRAT/CTF-80), 2024–present. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF), 2025–present. 1 1989 (NROTC) 35 (1967–) 40 Douglas G. Perry 12 Jan 2024 Commander, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Command - Norfolk/Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (COMSECONDFLT/CDRJFC-NF/DIRCJOS COE), 2024–present. 1 1989 (USNA) 35 (1967–) 41 Daniel L. Cheever 31 Jan 2024 Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRFOR/COMNAVAIRPAC), 2024–2026. 1 1988 (AOCS) 36 (1963–) 42 George M. Wikoff 1 Feb 2024 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2024–2025. 1 1990 (NROTC) 34 (1968–) Promoted to admiral, 18 Nov 2025. 43 Frederick W. Kacher 15 Feb 2024 Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 2024–2025.