Admiral ( United States ) - wikipedia Admiral ( United States ) This article is about a United States Navy rank. For other countries that use an admiral rank, see Admiral. Admiral Flag of an admiral of the Unrestricted Line, United States Navy. The stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of a U.S. Navy admiral of the `` line ''. Country United States of America Service branch United States Navy United States Coast Guard United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Abbreviation ADM Rank Four - star NATO rank OF - 9 Non-NATO rank O - 10 Next higher rank Fleet admiral Next lower rank Vice admiral Equivalent ranks General ( Uniformed services of the United States ) Admiral ( abbreviated as ADM ) is a four - star commissioned naval flag officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O - 10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below fleet admiral in the Navy ; the Coast Guard and the Public Health Service do not have an established grade above admiral. Admiral is equivalent to the rank of general in the other uniformed services. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps has never had an officer hold the grade of admiral. However, 37 U.S.C. § 201 of the U.S. Code established the grade for the NOAA Corps, in case a position is created that merits the four - star grade. Since the five - star grade of fleet admiral has not been used since 1946, the grade of admiral is effectively the highest appointment an officer can achieve in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Contents 1 History 2 Statutory limits 3 Appointment and tour length 4 Retirement 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References History The United States Navy did not have any admirals until 1862, because many people felt the title too reminiscent of royalty -- such as the British Royal Navy -- to be used in the country 's navy. Others saw the need for ranks above captain, among them John Paul Jones, who pointed out that the Navy had to have officers who `` ranked '' with army generals. He also felt there must be ranks above captain to avoid disputes among senior captains. The various secretaries of the navy repeatedly recommended to Congress that admiral ranks be created because the other navies of the world used them and American senior officers were `` often subjected to serious difficulties and embarrassments in the interchange of civilities with those of other nations. '' Congress finally authorized nine rear admirals on July 16, 1862, although that was probably more for the needs of the rapidly expanding navy during the American Civil War than any international considerations. Two years later Congress authorized the appointment of a vice admiral from among the nine rear admirals : David Farragut. Another bill allowed the President of the United States to appoint Farragut to admiral on July 25, 1866, and David Dixon Porter to vice admiral. When Farragut died in 1870, Porter became admiral and Stephen C. Rowan was promoted to vice admiral. Even after they died, Congress did not allow the promotion of any of the rear admirals to succeed them, so there were no more admirals or vice admirals by promotion until 1915 when Congress authorized an admiral and a vice admiral each for the Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic Fleets. There was one admiral in the interim, however. In 1899, Congress recognized George Dewey 's accomplishments during the Spanish -- American War by authorizing the President to appoint him Admiral of the Navy. He held that rank until he died in 1917. Nobody has since held that title. In 1944, Congress approved the five - star grade of fleet admiral. The first to hold it were William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, and Chester W. Nimitz. The Senate confirmed their appointments December 15, 1944. Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey got his fifth star in December 1945. None have been appointed since. The sleeve stripes now used by admirals and vice admirals in the United States date from March 11, 1869, when General Order Number 90 specified that for their `` undress '' uniforms admirals would wear a two - inch stripe with three half - inch stripes above it and vice admirals the two - inch stripe with two half - inch stripes above it. The rear admiral got his two - inch stripe and one half - inch stripe in 1866. The sleeve stripes had been more elaborate. When the rear admiral rank started in 1862 the sleeve arrangement was three stripes of three - quarter - inch lace alternating with three stripes of quarter - inch lace. It was some ten inches from top to bottom. The vice admiral, of course, had even more stripes and when Farragut became admiral in 1866, he had so many stripes they reached from his cuffs almost to his elbow. On their dress uniforms the admirals wore bands of gold embroidery of live oak leaves and acorns. The admirals of the 1860s wore the same number of stars on their shoulders as admirals of corresponding grades do today. In 1899, the navy 's one admiral ( Dewey ) and 18 rear admirals put on the new shoulder marks, as did the other officers when wearing their white uniforms, but kept their stars instead of repeating the sleeve cuff stripes. During the 20th century, the ranks of the modern U.S. admiralty were firmly established. An oddity that did exist was that the navy did not have a one - star rank except briefly during World War II when Congress established a temporary war rank of commodore. The one - star rank was later established permanently in 1986. Statutory limits U.S. law limits the number of four - star admirals that may be on active duty at any time. The total number of active - duty flag officers is capped at 160 for the Navy. For the Army, Navy, and Air Force, no more than about 25 % of the service 's active - duty general or flag officers may have more than two stars, and statute sets the total number of four - star officers allowed in each service. This is set at 6 four - star Navy admirals. Some of these slots are reserved by statute. For the Navy, the chief of naval operations, vice chief of naval operations ; for the Coast Guard the commandant of the coast guard and vice commandant of the coast guard are admirals ; for the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the Assistant Secretary for Health is an admiral if he or she holds an appointment to the regular corps. There are several exceptions to these limits allowing more than allotted within the statute. A Navy admiral serving as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff does not count against the Navy 's flag - officer cap. A Navy admiral serving in one of several joint positions does not count against his or her service 's four - star limit ; these positions include the commander of a unified combatant command, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, and the deputy commander of U.S. European Command but only if the commander of that command is also the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against either limit, including the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The President may also add admirals to the Navy if they are offset by removing an equivalent number of four - stars from other services. Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the President 's discretion during time of war or national emergency. Appointment and tour length Four - star grades go hand - in - hand with the positions of office they are linked to, so these ranks are temporary. Officers may only achieve four - star grade if they are appointed to positions that require the officer to hold such a rank. Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute. Admirals are nominated for appointment by the President from any eligible officers holding the rank of rear admiral ( lower half ) or above, who also meets the requirements for the position, under the advice and / or suggestion of their respective department secretary, service secretary, and if applicable the joint chiefs. For some specific positions, statute allows the President to waive those requirements for a nominee whom he deems would serve national interests. The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank. The standard tour length for most four - star positions is three years, bundled as a two - year term plus a one - year extension, with the following exceptions : The Chief of Naval Operations serves for four years in one four - year term. The Vice Chief of Naval Operations serves for a nominal four years, but is commonly reassigned after one or two years. The Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion serves for a nominal eight years. The Commandant of the Coast Guard serves for a nominal four years. The Assistant Secretary for Health is a civilian appointee or a current serving member of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who serves for a nominal four years at the pleasure of the President. Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved, within statutory limits, by their respective service secretaries, the secretary of defense, the President, and / or Congress but these are rare, as they block other officers from being promoted. Some statutory limits under the U.S. Code can be waived in times of national emergency or war. Admiral ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare. Retirement Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Four - star officers must retire after 40 years of service unless reappointed to grade to serve longer. Otherwise all flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. However, the secretary of defense can defer a four - star officer 's retirement until the officer 's 66th birthday and the President can defer it until the officer 's 68th birthday. Flag officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors. Since there are a limited number of four - star slots available to each service, typically one officer must leave office before another can be promoted. Maintaining a four - star rank is a game of musical chairs ; once an officer vacates a position bearing that rank, he or she has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal importance before he or she must involuntarily retire. Historically, officers leaving four - star positions were allowed to revert to their permanent two - star ranks to mark time in lesser jobs until statutory retirement, but now such officers are expected to retire immediately to avoid obstructing the promotion flow. Gallery U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USPHSCC, NOAACOC insignia A U.S. Coast Guard admiral 's flag ( unrestricted line officer ) The stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of a U.S. Coast Guard admiral The stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of a U.S. Public Health Service admiral See also United States Navy portal U.S. Navy officer rank insignia List of active duty United States four - star officers List of United States Navy four - star admirals List of United States Coast Guard four - star admirals List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four - star admirals References ^ Jump up to : `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 10. Retrieved 2007 - 10 - 03. History.Navy.mil - Naval traditions : Names of ranks Jump up ^ ( 1 ) 10 USC 526. Authorized strength : general and flag officers on active duty. ^ Jump up to : ( 2 ) 10 USC 525. Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades. Jump up ^ ( 3 ) 14 USC 44. Commandant ; appointment. Jump up ^ ( 4 ) 42 USC 207. Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps. Jump up ^ ( 5 ) 10 USC 604. Senior joint - officer positions : recommendations to the Secretary of Defense. Jump up ^ ( 6 ) 10 USC 528. Officers serving in certain intelligence positions : military status ; exclusion from distribution and strength limitations ; pay and allowances. Jump up ^ ( 7 ) 10 USC 527. Authority to suspend sections 523, 525, and 526. ^ Jump up to : ( 8 ) 10 USC 601. Positions of importance and responsibility : generals and lieutenant generals ; admirals and vice admirals. Jump up ^ ( 9 ) 10 164. Commanders of combatant commands : assignment ; powers and duties Jump up ^ ( 10 ) 10 USC 636. Retirement for years of service : regular officers in grades above brigadier general and rear admiral ( lower half ). ^ Jump up to : ( 11 ) 10 USC 1253 Age 64 : regular commissioned officers in general and flag officer grades ; exception Jump up ^ ( 12 ) DoD News Briefing on Thursday, June 6, 1996. Retirement of Admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr. United States uniformed services commissioned officer and officer candidate ranks Pay grade / branch of service Officer candidate O - 1 O - 2 O - 3 O - 4 O - 5 O - 6 O - 7 O - 8 O - 9 O - 10 O - 11 ( Obs. ) Special grade Insignia ( 2 ) Army CDT / OC 2LT 1LT CPT MAJ LTC COL BG MG LTG GEN GA GAS Marine Corps Midn / Cand 2ndLt 1stLt Capt Maj LtCol Col BGen MajGen LtGen Gen Navy MIDN / OC ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM ADM FADM AN Air Force Cadet / OT / OC 2d Lt 1st Lt Capt Maj Lt Col Col Brig Gen Maj Gen Lt Gen Gen GAF Coast Guard CDT / OC ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM ADM PHS Corps ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RADM RADM VADM ADM NOAA Corps OC ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT RDML RADM VADM No universal insignia for officer candidate rank ; Navy candidate insignia shown Official 1945 proposal for General of the Armies insignia ; John J. Pershing 's GAS insignia : ; George Dewey 's Admiral of the Navy insignia : Rank used for specific officers in wartime only, not permanent addition to rank structure Grade is authorized by the U.S. Code for use but has not been created Grade has never been created or authorized USAF and U.S. Army insignia shown United States warrant officer ranks W - 1 W - 2 W - 3 W - 4 W - 5 Army WO1 CW2 CW3 CW4 CW5 Marine Corps WO1 CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 CWO5 Navy WO1 CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 CWO5 Air Force WO1 CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 CWO5 Coast Guard WO1 CWO2 CWO3 CWO4 PHS Corps NOAA Corps Grade inactive Grade is authorized for use by U.S. Code but has not been created Grade never created or authorized Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Admiral_(United_States)&oldid=797463477 '' Categories : Military ranks of the United States Navy Military ranks of the United States Coast Guard 4 star officers Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Русский Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 27 August 2017, at 06 : 08. 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Question: how many admirals does the us navy have
Answer: 6 four-star