List of United States Navy four - star admirals - wikipedia List of United States Navy four - star admirals Flag of a Navy four - star admiral 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 263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. Of these, 222 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 : 232 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy ( USNA ), 17 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps ( NROTC ), 8 via Officer Candidate School ( OCS ), 2 via warrant, 1 via the Naval Aviation Cadet ( NAVCAD ) Program, 2 via Aviation Officer Candidate School ( AOCS ) and 1 via the U.S. Merchant Marine. Contents 1 List of admirals 1.1 Tombstone admirals 2 Timeline 2.1 Four - star positions 2.2 1866 -- 1940 2.3 1941 -- present 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References List of admirals Entries in the following list of four - star admirals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk ( * ) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the admiral 's name, date of rank, active - duty positions held while serving at four - star rank, number of years of active - duty service at four - star rank ( Yrs ), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to four - star rank ( YC ), and other biographical notes. 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 Photo Date of rank Position Yrs Commission YC Notes farragut ! David G. Farragut 1866 - 07 - 25 ! 25 Jul 1866 Admiral of the Navy, 1866 -- 1870. Commander, European Squadron, 1867 -- 1868. 1810 ( warrant ) 56 ( 1801 -- 1870 ) Brother - by - adoption of Navy four - star admiral David D. Porter Jr. porter ! David D. Porter Jr. 1870 - 08 - 15 ! 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. dewey ! George Dewey 1899 - 03 - 02 ! 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. fletcher ! Frank F. Fletcher 1915 - 03 - 10 ! 10 Mar 1915 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANT ), 1914 -- 1916. 1875 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1855 -- 1928 ) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Uncle of Navy four - star admiral Frank J. Fletcher. 5 howard ! Thomas B. Howard 1915 - 03 - 11 ! 11 Mar 1915 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPAC ), 1914 -- 1915. 1873 ( USNA ) 42 ( 1854 -- 1920 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Observatory, 1917 -- 1919. 6 cowles ! Walter C. Cowles 1915 - 03 - 12 ! 12 Mar 1915 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1914 -- 1915. 1873 ( USNA ) 42 ( 1853 -- 1917 ) 7 winterhalter ! Albert G. Winterhalter 1915 - 07 - 09 ! 09 Jul 1915 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1915 -- 1917. 1877 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1856 -- 1920 ) 8 winslow ! Cameron M. Winslow 1915 - 09 - 13 ! 13 Sep 1915 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPAC ), 1915 -- 1916. 1875 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1854 -- 1932 ) 9 mayo ! Henry T. Mayo 1916 - 06 - 19 ! 19 Jun 1916 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANT ), 1916 -- 1919. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1919. 1876 ( USNA ) 41 ( 1857 -- 1937 ) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1924 -- 1928. 10 caperton ! William B. Caperton 1916 - 07 - 28 ! 28 Jul 1916 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPAC ), 1916 -- 1919. 1875 ( USNA ) 41 ( 1855 -- 1941 ) Special Representative of the President in Brazil, 1918. 11 benson ! William S. Benson 1916 - 08 - 29 ! 29 Aug 1916 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1915 -- 1919. 1877 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1855 -- 1932 ) Chairman / Commissioner, U.S. Shipping Board, 1919 -- 1928. 12 knight ! Austin M. Knight 1917 - 04 - 04 ! 04 Apr 1917 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1917 -- 1918. 1873 ( USNA ) 44 ( 1854 -- 1927 ) Brother of Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes. 13 sims ! William S. Sims 1918 - 12 - 04 ! 04 Dec 1918 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, 1917 -- 1919. 1880 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1858 -- 1936 ) Awarded Pulitzer Prize for History, 1921. 14 wilson ! Henry B. Wilson Jr. 1919 - 06 - 30 ! 30 Jun 1919 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANT ), 1919 -- 1921. 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 rodman ! Hugh Rodman 1919 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1919 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPAC ), 1919 -- 1921. 1880 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1859 -- 1940 ) U.S. Minister and Envoy to Peru, 1921. 16 gleaves ! Albert Gleaves 1919 - 09 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1919 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1919 -- 1921. 1877 ( USNA ) 42 ( 1858 -- 1937 ) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928 -- 1931. 17 coontz ! Robert E. Coontz 1919 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1919 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1919 -- 1923. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1923 -- 1925. 6 1885 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1864 -- 1935 ) Governor of Guam, 1912 -- 1913. 18 strauss ! Joseph Strauss 1921 - 02 - 04 ! 04 Feb 1921 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1921 -- 1922. 1885 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1861 -- 1948 ) 19 jones ! Hilary P. Jones 1921 - 06 - 30 ! 30 Jun 1921 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANT ), 1921 -- 1922. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1922 -- 1923. 1884 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1865 -- 1939 ) 20 eberle ! Edward W. Eberle 1921 - 07 - 05 ! 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 ) 36 ( 1864 -- 1929 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1915 -- 1919. 21 anderson ! Edwin A. Anderson 1922 - 08 - 28 ! 28 Aug 1922 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1922 -- 1923. 1882 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1860 -- 1933 ) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. 22 robison ! Samuel S. Robison 1923 - 06 - 30 ! 30 Jun 1923 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1923 -- 1925. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1925 -- 1926. 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 washington ! Thomas Washington 1923 - 10 - 11 ! 11 Oct 1923 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1923 -- 1925. 1887 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1865 -- 1954 ) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1931 -- 1937. 24 hughes ! Charles F. Hughes 1925 - 10 - 14 - 00 ! 14 Oct 1925 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1925 -- 1926. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1926 -- 1927. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1927 -- 1930. 5 1888 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1866 -- 1934 ) Brother - in - law of Navy four - star admiral Samuel S. Robison ; daughter married brother of Navy five - star admiral Chester W. Nimitz. 25 williams ! Clarence S. Williams 1925 - 10 - 14 - 01 ! 14 Oct 1925 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1925 -- 1927. 1884 ( USNA ) 41 ( 1863 -- 1951 ) 26 jackson ! Richard H. Jackson 1926 - 09 - 04 ! 04 Sep 1926 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1926 -- 1927. 1887 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1866 -- 1971 ) Distant cousin of Air Force four - star general Charles P. Cabell. 27 wiley ! Henry A. Wiley 1927 - 09 - 08 ! 08 Sep 1927 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1927 - 1929. 1888 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1867 -- 1943 ) Chairman / Commissioner, U.S. Maritime Commission, 1936 -- 1940. 28 bristol ! Mark L. Bristol 1927 - 09 - 09 ! 09 Sep 1927 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1927 -- 1929. 1887 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1868 -- 1939 ) U.S. High Commissioner, Turkey, 1919 -- 1927. 29 desteiguer ! Louis R. de Steiguer 1927 - 09 - 10 ! 10 Sep 1927 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1927 -- 1928. 1889 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1867 -- 1947 ) 30 pratt ! William V. Pratt 1928 - 06 - 26 ! 26 Jun 1928 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1928 -- 1929. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1929 -- 1930. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1930 -- 1933. 5 1889 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1869 -- 1957 ) 31 nulton ! Louis M. Nulton 1929 - 05 - 21 ! 21 May 1929 Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet ( COMBATFLT ), 1929 -- 1930. 1889 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1869 -- 1954 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1925 -- 1928. 32 mcvay ! Charles B. McVay Jr. 1929 - 09 - 09 ! 09 Sep 1929 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1929 -- 1931. 1890 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1868 -- 1949 ) 33 schofield ! Frank H. Schofield 1930 - 05 - 24 ! 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. 1890 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1869 -- 1942 ) 34 chase ! Jehu V. Chase 1930 - 09 - 17 ! 17 Sep 1930 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1930 -- 1931. 1890 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1869 -- 1937 ) 35 taylor ! Montgomery M. Taylor 1931 - 09 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1931 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1931 -- 1933. 1890 ( USNA ) 41 ( 1869 -- 1952 ) Grandnephew of U.S. President Zachary Taylor ; distant cousin of Army four - star general Montgomery C. Meigs. 36 leigh ! Richard H. Leigh 1931 - 09 - 15 ! 15 Sep 1931 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1931 -- 1932. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1932 -- 1933. 1891 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1870 -- 1946 ) 37 mcnamee ! Luke McNamee 1932 - 08 - 11 ! 11 Aug 1932 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1932 -- 1933. 1892 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1871 -- 1952 ) Governor of Guam, 1907. 38 standley ! William H. Standley 1933 - 05 - 20 ! 20 May 1933 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1933. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1933 -- 1937. 1895 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1872 -- 1963 ) U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1942 -- 1943. 39 sellers ! David F. Sellers 1933 - 06 - 10 ! 10 Jun 1933 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1933 -- 1934. 1894 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1874 -- 1949 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1934 -- 1938. 40 reeves ! Joseph M. Reeves 1933 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1933 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1933 -- 1934. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1934 -- 1936. 1894 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1872 -- 1948 ) 41 upham ! Frank B. Upham 1933 - 08 - 18 ! 18 Aug 1933 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1933 -- 1935. 1893 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1872 -- 1939 ) Married aunt of Navy four - star admiral Robert B. Carney. 42 brumby ! Frank H. Brumby 1934 - 06 - 15 ! 15 Jun 1934 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1934 -- 1935. 1895 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1874 -- 1950 ) 43 laning ! Harris Laning 1935 - 04 - 01 ! 01 Apr 1935 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1935 -- 1936. 1895 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1873 -- 1941 ) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1937 -- 1941. 44 murfin ! Orin G. Murfin 1935 - 10 - 04 ! 04 Oct 1935 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1935 -- 1936. 1897 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1876 -- 1956 ) 45 leahy ! William D. Leahy 1936 - 03 - 30 ! 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 ) 39 ( 1875 -- 1959 ) Promoted to fleet admiral, 15 Dec 1944. Governor of Puerto Rico, 1939 -- 1940 ; U.S. Ambassador to France, 1941 -- 1942. Wife 's niece married Navy four - star admiral David W. Bagley. 46 hepburn ! Arthur J. Hepburn 1936 - 06 - 24 ! 24 Jun 1936 Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1936 -- 1938. 1897 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1877 -- 1964 ) 47 yarnell ! Harry E. Yarnell 1936 - 10 - 30 ! 30 Oct 1936 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1936 -- 1939. 1897 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1875 -- 1959 ) 48 bloch ! Claude C. Bloch 1937 - 01 - 02 ! 02 Jan 1937 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1937 -- 1938. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1938 -- 1940. 1899 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1878 -- 1967 ) 49 kalbfus ! Edward C. Kalbfus 1938 - 01 - 29 ! 29 Jan 1938 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1938 -- 1939. 1899 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1877 -- 1954 ) 50 richardson ! James O. Richardson 1939 - 06 - 24 ! 24 Jun 1939 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1939 -- 1940. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCUS ), 1940 -- 1941. 1902 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1878 -- 1974 ) Relieved, 1941. 51 hart ! Thomas C. Hart 1939 - 07 - 25 ! 25 Jul 1939 Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet ( CINCAF ), 1939 -- 1942. 1897 ( USNA ) 42 ( 1877 -- 1971 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1931 -- 1934 ; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1945 -- 1946. 52 stark ! Harold R. Stark 1939 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1939 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1939 -- 1942. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe ( COMNAVEUR ), 1942 -- 1945. 6 1903 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1880 -- 1972 ) 53 snyder ! Charles P. Snyder 1940 - 01 - 06 ! 06 Jan 1940 Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet ( COMBATFOR ), 1940 -- 1941. 1900 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1879 -- 1964 ) 54 kimmel ! Husband E. Kimmel 1941 - 02 - 01 - 00 ! 01 Feb 1941 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet / Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet ( CINCPAC / CINCUS ), 1941. 0 1904 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1882 -- 1968 ) Relieved, 1941. Brother - in - law of Navy four - star admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. 55 king ! Ernest J. King 1941 - 02 - 01 - 01 ! 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. 1901 ( USNA ) 40 ( 1878 -- 1956 ) Promoted to fleet admiral, 17 Dec 1944. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1946. Father - in - law of Air Force four - star general Frederic H. Smith Jr. 56 nimitz ! Chester W. Nimitz 1941 - 12 - 31 ! 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 ) 36 ( 1885 -- 1966 ) Promoted to fleet admiral, 19 Dec 1944. Brother married daughter of Navy four - star admiral Charles F. Hughes. 57 ingersoll ! Royal E. Ingersoll 1942 - 07 - 01 ! 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. 1905 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1883 -- 1976 ) 58 halsey ! William F. Halsey Jr. 1942 - 11 - 18 ! 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. 1904 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1882 -- 1959 ) Promoted to fleet admiral, 04 Dec 1945. 59 spruance ! Raymond A. Spruance 1944 - 02 - 16 ! 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. 1906 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1886 -- 1969 ) U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1952 -- 1955. 60 ingram ! Jonas H. Ingram 1944 - 11 - 15 ! 15 Nov 1944 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANT ), 1944 -- 1946. 1909 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1886 -- 1952 ) Commissioner, All - America Football Conference, 1947 -- 1949. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. 61 horne ! Frederick J. Horne 1944 - 12 - 15 ! 15 Dec 1944 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1942 -- 1945. 1899 ( USNA ) 45 ( 1880 -- 1959 ) 62 edwards ! Richard S. Edwards Jr. 1945 - 04 - 03 - 00 ! 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. 1907 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1885 -- 1956 ) 63 hewitt ! H. Kent Hewitt 1945 - 04 - 03 - 01 ! 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. 1907 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1887 -- 1972 ) 64 kinkaid ! Thomas C. Kinkaid 1945 - 04 - 03 - 02 ! 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 ) 37 ( 1888 -- 1972 ) Brother - in - law of Navy four - star admiral Husband E. Kimmel. 65 turnerrichmond ! Richmond K. Turner 1945 - 05 - 24 ! 24 May 1945 Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific ( COMPHIBPAC ), 1944 -- 1945. U.S Naval Representative, U.N. Military Staff Committee ( USNAVYMILCOMUNO ), 1945 -- 1947. 1908 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1885 -- 1961 ) 66 robinson ! Samuel M. Robinson 1945 - 08 - 27 ! 27 Aug 1945 Director, Office of Procurement and Material, 1942 -- 1946. 1903 ( USNA ) 42 ( 1882 -- 1972 ) Administrator, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1946 -- 1951. First engineering officer to attain rank of admiral. * mccainjohns ! John S. McCain Sr. 1945 - 09 - 06 ! 06 Sep 1945 ( posthumous ) 0 1906 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1884 -- 1945 ) Father of Navy four - star admiral John S. McCain Jr. ; grandfather of U.S. Senator John S. McCain III. 67 towers ! John H. Towers 1945 - 11 - 07 ! 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. 1906 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1885 -- 1955 ) 68 ramsey ! DeWitt C. Ramsey 1945 - 12 - 28 ! 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. 1912 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1888 -- 1961 ) 69 denfeld ! Louis E. Denfeld 1946 - 01 - 07 ! 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. 1912 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1891 -- 1972 ) Candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, 1950. Relieved, 1949. 70 cooke ! Charles M. Cooke Jr. 1946 - 01 - 08 ! 08 Jan 1946 Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet ( COMSEVENTHFLT ), 1946 -- 1947. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Western Pacific ( COMNAVWESPAC ), 1947 -- 1948. 1910 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1886 -- 1970 ) 71 mitscher ! Marc A. Mitscher 1946 - 03 - 01 ! 01 Mar 1946 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1946 -- 1947. 1910 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1887 -- 1947 ) Died in office. 72 moreell ! Ben Moreell 1946 - 06 - 11 ! 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 conolly ! Richard L. Conolly 1946 - 09 - 23 ! 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. 1914 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1892 -- 1962 ) President, Long Island University, 1953 -- 1962. 74 blandy ! William H.P. Blandy 1947 - 02 - 03 ! 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. 1913 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1890 -- 1954 ) 75 radford ! Arthur W. Radford 1949 - 04 - 07 ! 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 sherman ! Forrest P. Sherman 1949 - 11 - 02 ! 02 Nov 1949 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1949 -- 1951. 1917 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1896 -- 1951 ) Died in office. 77 fechteler ! William M. Fechteler 1950 - 02 - 01 ! 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 carney ! Robert B. Carney 1950 - 10 - 02 ! 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 mccormick ! Lynde D. McCormick 1950 - 12 - 22 ! 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. 1915 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1895 -- 1956 ) 80 duncandonaldb ! Donald B. Duncan 1951 - 08 - 09 ! 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 stump ! Felix B. Stump 1953 - 06 - 27 ! 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 wright ! Jerauld Wright 1954 - 04 - 06 ! 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 cassady ! John H. Cassady 1954 - 04 - 07 ! 07 Apr 1954 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ( CINCNELM ), 1954 -- 1956. 1918 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1896 -- 1969 ) 84 burke ! Arleigh A. Burke 1955 - 06 - 06 ! 06 Jun 1955 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1955 -- 1961. 6 1923 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1901 -- 1996 ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1977. 85 briscoe ! Robert P. Briscoe 1956 - 04 - 30 ! 30 Apr 1956 Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ), 1956 -- 1959. 1918 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1897 -- 1968 ) 86 boone ! Walter F. Boone 1956 - 05 - 01 ! 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. 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 felt ! Harry D. Felt 1956 - 09 - 01 ! 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 curts ! Maurice E. Curts 1957 - 04 - 29 ! 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. 1919 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1898 -- 1976 ) 89 hollowayjamesljr ! James L. Holloway Jr. 1958 - 01 - 01 ! 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. 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 hopwood ! Herbert G. Hopwood 1958 - 02 - 01 ! 01 Feb 1958 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1958 -- 1960. 1919 ( USNA ) 39 ( 1898 -- 1966 ) 91 russell ! James S. Russell 1958 - 07 - 21 ! 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 brown ! Charles R. Brown 1959 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Jan 1959 Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ), 1959 -- 1961. 1921 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1899 -- 1983 ) 93 dennison ! Robert L. Dennison 1959 - 02 - 01 ! 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. 1923 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1901 -- 1980 ) 94 smithharoldpage ! Harold Page Smith 1960 - 02 - 01 ! 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 sides ! John H. Sides 1960 - 03 - 01 ! 01 Mar 1960 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1960 -- 1963. 1925 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1904 -- 1978 ) 96 anderson ! George W. Anderson Jr. 1961 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1961 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1961 -- 1963. 1927 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1906 -- 1992 ) U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, 1961 -- 1963. 97 ricketts ! Claude V. Ricketts 1961 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1961 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1961 -- 1964. 1929 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1906 -- 1964 ) Died in office. 98 mcdonalddavidl ! David L. McDonald 1963 - 04 - 01 ! 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. 1928 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1906 -- 1997 ) 99 griffin ! Charles D. Griffin 1963 - 06 - 26 ! 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 sharp ! U.S. Grant Sharp Jr. 1963 - 09 - 27 ! 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 moorer ! Thomas H. Moorer 1964 - 06 - 26 ! 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 rivero ! Horacio Rivero Jr. 1964 - 07 - 31 ! 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 thach ! John S. Thach 1965 - 03 - 25 ! 25 Mar 1965 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ), 1965 -- 1967. 1927 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1905 -- 1981 ) 104 ward ! Alfred G. Ward 1965 - 03 - 27 ! 27 Mar 1965 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1965 -- 1968. 1932 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1909 -- 1982 ) 105 johnsonroyl ! Roy L. Johnson 1965 - 03 - 31 ! 31 Mar 1965 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1965 -- 1967. 1929 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1906 -- 1999 ) 106 mccainjohnsjr ! John S. McCain Jr. 1967 - 05 - 01 ! 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 galantin ! Ignatius J. Galantin 1967 - 05 - 19 ! 19 May 1967 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1965 -- 1970. 1933 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1910 -- 2004 ) 108 holmes ! Ephraim P. Holmes 1967 - 06 - 17 ! 17 Jun 1967 Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic / Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command / Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1967 -- 1970. 1930 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1908 -- 1997 ) 109 hyland ! John J. Hyland Jr. 1967 - 12 - 01 ! 01 Dec 1967 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1967 -- 1970. 1934 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1912 -- 1998 ) 110 clarey ! Bernard A. Clarey 1968 - 01 - 17 ! 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 wendt ! Waldemar F.A. Wendt 1968 - 07 - 12 ! 12 Jul 1968 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ), 1968 -- 1971. 1933 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1912 -- 1997 ) 112 zumwalt ! Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. 1970 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1970 Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1970 -- 1974. 1942 ( USNA ) 28 ( 1920 -- 2000 ) Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1976. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1998. 113 duncancharlesk ! Charles K. Duncan 1970 - 09 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1970 Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic / Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command / Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( SACLANT / CINCLANT / CINCLANTFLT ), 1970 -- 1972. 1933 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1911 -- 1994 ) 114 arnold ! Jackson D. Arnold 1970 - 10 - 14 ! 14 Oct 1970 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1970 -- 1971. 1934 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1912 -- 2007 ) First restricted line officer to attain rank of admiral. 115 cousins ! Ralph W. Cousins 1970 - 10 - 30 30 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 bringle ! William F. Bringle 1971 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1971 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ), 1971 -- 1973. 1937 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1913 -- 1999 ) 117 kidd ! Isaac C. Kidd Jr. 1971 - 12 - 01 ! 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 colbert ! Richard G. Colbert 1972 - 06 - 01 ! 01 Jun 1972 Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ), 1972 -- 1973. 1937 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1915 -- 1973 ) 119 gayler ! Noel A.M. Gayler 1972 - 09 - 01 - 00 ! 01 Sep 1972 Commander in Chief, Pacific Command ( CINCPAC ), 1972 -- 1976. 1935 ( USNA ) 37 ( 1914 -- 2011 ) Director, National Security Agency, 1969 -- 1972. 120 weisner ! Maurice F. Weisner 1972 - 09 - 01 - 01 ! 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 hollowayjamesliii ! James L. Holloway III 1973 - 09 - 01 - 00 ! 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 bagleyworthh ! Worth H. Bagley 1973 - 09 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1973 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ), 1973 -- 1974. Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1974 -- 1975. 1947 ( USNA ) 26 ( 1924 -- 2016 ) Son of Navy four - star admiral David W. Bagley ; brother of Navy four - star admiral David H. Bagley ; great - aunt married Navy five - star admiral William D. Leahy ; great - aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. 123 rickover ! Hyman G. Rickover 1973 - 11 - 16 ! 16 Nov 1973 Director, Division of Nuclear Reactors, 1948 -- 1982. 9 1922 ( USNA ) 51 ( 1900 -- 1986 ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1980 ; Congressional Gold Medal, 1958 and 1982. 124 johnston ! Means Johnston Jr. 1973 - 11 - 25 ! 25 Nov 1973 Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ), 1973 -- 1975. 1939 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1916 -- 1989 ) 125 shear ! Harold E. Shear 1974 - 05 - 24 ! 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 weinel ! John P. Weinel 1974 - 08 - 02 ! 02 Aug 1974 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1974 -- 1977. 1939 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1916 -- 2004 ) 127 michaelis ! Frederick H. Michaelis 1975 - 04 - 19 ! 19 Apr 1975 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1975 -- 1978. 1940 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1917 -- 1992 ) 128 bagleydavidh ! David H. Bagley 1975 - 05 - 21 ! 21 May 1975 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ), 1975 -- 1977. 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 turnerstansfield ! Stansfield Turner 1975 - 09 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1975 Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ), 1975 -- 1977. Director of Central Intelligence ( DCI ), 1977 -- 1981. 1946 ( USNA ) 29 ( 1923 -- 2018 ) 130 murphy ! Daniel J. Murphy 1976 - 00 - 00 ! 1976 Deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence for the Intelligence Community ( D / DCI / IC ), 1976 -- 1977. 1943 ( OCS ) 33 ( 1922 -- 2001 ) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1977 -- 1981 ; Chief of Staff to the U.S. Vice President, 1981 -- 1985. 131 hayward ! Thomas B. Hayward 1976 - 08 - 12 ! 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 long ! Robert L.J. Long 1977 - 07 - 05 ! 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 davis ! Donald C. Davis 1978 - 05 - 09 ! 09 May 1978 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1978 -- 1981. 1943 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1921 -- 1998 ) 134 whittle ! Alfred J. Whittle Jr. 1978 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1978 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1978 -- 1981. 1945 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1924 -- 1993 ) 135 train ! Harry D. Train II 1978 - 10 - 01 ! 01 Oct 1978 Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic / Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command / Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( SACLANT / CINCLANT / CINCLANTFLT ), 1978 -- 1982. 1949 ( USNA ) 29 ( 1927 -- ) 136 watkins ! James D. Watkins 1979 - 09 - 18 ! 18 Sep 1979 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1979 -- 1981. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1981 -- 1982. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1982 -- 1986. 7 1949 ( USNA ) 30 ( 1927 -- 2012 ) U.S. Secretary of Energy, 1989 -- 1993. 137 crowe ! William J. Crowe Jr. 1980 - 05 - 30 ! 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 inman ! Bobby R. Inman 1981 - 02 - 12 ! 12 Feb 1981 Deputy Director of Central Intelligence ( DDCI ), 1981 -- 1982. 1952 ( OCS ) 29 ( 1931 -- ) Director, National Security Agency, 1977 -- 1981. First naval intelligence specialist to attain rank of admiral. 139 small ! William N. Small 1981 - 07 - 01 - 00 ! 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. 1948 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1927 -- 2016 ) 140 williams ! John G. Williams Jr. 1981 - 07 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1981 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1981 -- 1983. 1947 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1924 -- 1991 ) 141 kinnear ! George E.R. Kinnear II 1981 - 07 - 31 ! 31 Jul 1981 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1981 -- 1982. 1948 ( OCS ) 33 ( 1928 -- 2015 ) 142 mckee ! Kinnaird R. McKee 1982 - 03 - 02 ! 02 Mar 1982 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 1982 -- 1988. 6 1951 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1929 -- 2013 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1975 -- 1978. 143 foley ! Sylvester R. Foley Jr. 1982 - 05 - 28 ! 28 May 1982 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1982 -- 1985. 1950 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1928 -- ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, 1985 -- 1988. 144 mcdonaldwesleyl ! Wesley L. McDonald 1982 - 10 - 01 ! 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. 1946 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1924 -- 2009 ) 145 hays ! Ronald J. Hays 1983 - 04 - 29 ! 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 white ! Steven A. White 1983 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1983 Chief of Naval Material ( CNM ), 1983 -- 1985. 1952 ( NROTC ) 31 ( 1928 -- ) Manager of Nuclear Power, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1986 -- 1988. 147 baggett ! Lee Baggett Jr. 1985 - 05 - 30 ! 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. 1950 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1927 -- 1999 ) 148 lyons ! James A. Lyons Jr. 1985 - 09 - 16 ! 16 Sep 1985 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1985 -- 1987. 1952 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1927 -- ) 149 trost ! Carlisle A.H. Trost 1985 - 10 - 04 ! 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 busey ! James B. Busey IV 1985 - 10 - 17 ! 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. 1954 ( NAVCAD ) 31 ( 1932 -- ) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1989 -- 1991 ; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, 1991 -- 1992. 151 moreau ! Arthur S. Moreau Jr. 1985 - 11 - 15 ! 15 Nov 1985 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR / CINCSOUTH ), 1985 -- 1986. 1953 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1931 -- 1986 ) 152 kelso ! Frank B. Kelso II 1986 - 06 - 13 ! 13 Jun 1986 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet / Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command ( CINCLANTFLT / DCINCLANT ), 1986. Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1986 -- 1988. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic / Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command ( SACLANT / USCINCLANT ), 1988 -- 1990. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1990 -- 1994. 8 1956 ( USNA ) 30 ( 1933 -- 2013 ) 153 hardisty ! Huntington Hardisty 1987 - 03 - 11 ! 11 Mar 1987 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1987 -- 1988. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command ( USCINCPAC ), 1988 -- 1991. 1952 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1929 -- 2003 ) 154 carter ! Powell F. Carter Jr. 1987 - 10 - 01 - 00 ! 01 Oct 1987 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1987 -- 1988. Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1988 -- 1991. 1955 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1931 -- 2017 ) 155 jeremiah ! David E. Jeremiah 1987 - 10 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Oct 1987 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1987 -- 1990. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff ( VCJCS ), 1990 -- 1994. 7 1956 ( OCS ) 32 ( 1934 -- 2013 ) 156 edney ! Leon A. Edney 1988 - 10 - 01 ! 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. 1957 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1935 -- ) 157 demars ! Bruce DeMars 1988 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1988 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 1988 -- 1996. 8 1957 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1935 -- ) 158 hogg ! James R. Hogg 1988 - 12 - 01 ! 01 Dec 1988 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1988 -- 1991. 1956 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1934 -- ) 159 howe ! Jonathan T. Howe 1989 - 06 - 01 ! 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. 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 larson ! Charles R. Larson 1990 - 03 - 01 ! 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 -- 2014 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1983 -- 1986 ; Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, 2002. 161 johnsonjeromel ! Jerome L. Johnson 1990 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1990 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1990 -- 1992. 1956 ( NROTC ) 34 ( 1935 -- ) 162 miller ! Paul D. Miller 1991 - 02 - 01 ! 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. 1964 ( OCS ) 27 ( 1941 -- ) 163 smithwilliamd ! William D. Smith 1991 - 02 - 22 ! 22 Feb 1991 U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), 1991 -- 1993. 1955 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1933 -- ) 164 kelly ! Robert J. Kelly 1991 - 03 - 01 ! 01 Mar 1991 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1991 -- 1994. 1959 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1938 -- ) 165 boorda ! Jeremy M. Boorda 1992 - 03 - 02 ! 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. 1962 ( OCS ) 30 ( 1938 -- 1996 ) Died in office. 166 studeman ! William O. Studeman 1992 - 04 - 09 ! 09 Apr 1992 Deputy Director of Central Intelligence ( DDCI ), 1992 -- 1995. 1962 ( NROTC ) 30 ( 1940 -- ) Director, National Security Agency, 1988 -- 1992. 167 arthur ! Stanley R. Arthur 1992 - 07 - 06 ! 06 Jul 1992 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1992 -- 1995. 1957 ( NROTC ) 35 ( 1935 -- ) 168 mauz ! Henry H. Mauz Jr. 1992 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1992 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1992 -- 1994. 1959 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1936 -- ) 169 chiles ! Henry G. Chiles Jr. 1994 - 02 - 14 ! 14 Feb 1994 Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command ( USCINCSTRAT ), 1994 -- 1996. 1960 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1938 -- ) 170 owens ! William A. Owens 1994 - 03 - 01 ! 01 Mar 1994 Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff ( VCJCS ), 1994 -- 1996. 1962 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1940 -- ) 171 smithleightonwjr ! Leighton W. Smith Jr. 1994 - 05 - 01 ! 01 May 1994 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR / CINCSOUTH ), 1994 -- 1996. 1962 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1939 -- ) Nephew of Navy four - star admiral Harold Page Smith. 172 macke ! Richard C. Macke 1994 - 10 - 01 ! 01 Oct 1994 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command ( USCINCPAC ), 1994 -- 1996. 1960 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1938 -- ) Relieved, 1996. 173 zlatoper ! Ronald J. Zlatoper 1994 - 10 - 05 ! 05 Oct 1994 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1994 -- 1996. 1963 ( NROTC ) 31 ( 1941 -- ) 174 flanagan ! William J. Flanagan Jr. 1994 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1994 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1994 -- 1996. 1964 ( MMA ) 30 ( 1943 -- ) 175 prueher ! Joseph W. Prueher 1995 - 06 - 01 ! 01 Jun 1995 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1995 -- 1996. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command ( USCINCPAC ), 1996 -- 1999. 1964 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1942 -- ) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1999 -- 2001. 176 johnsonjayl ! Jay L. Johnson 1996 - 04 - 01 ! 01 Apr 1996 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1996. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 1996 -- 2000. 1968 ( USNA ) 28 ( 1946 -- ) 177 lopez ! Thomas J. Lopez 1996 - 07 - 31 ! 31 Jul 1996 Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR / CINCSOUTH ), 1996 -- 1998. 1964 ( NROTC ) 32 ( 1940 -- ) 178 bowman ! Frank L. Bowman 1996 - 10 - 01 - 00 ! 01 Oct 1996 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 1996 -- 2004. 8 1966 ( NROTC ) 30 ( 1944 -- ) 179 gehman ! Harold W. Gehman Jr. 1996 - 10 - 01 - 01 ! 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. 1965 ( NROTC ) 31 ( 1942 -- ) 180 clemins ! Archie R. Clemins 1997 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Jan 1997 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 1996 -- 1999. 1966 ( NROTC ) 31 ( 1943 -- ) 181 reason ! Joseph P. Reason 1997 - 02 - 01 ! 01 Feb 1997 Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ( CINCLANTFLT ), 1996 -- 1999. 1965 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1941 -- ) First African - American to achieve the rank of admiral. 182 pilling ! Donald L. Pilling 1997 - 10 - 30 ! 30 Oct 1997 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 1997 -- 2000. 1965 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1943 -- 2008 ) 183 mies ! Richard W. Mies 1998 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1998 Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command ( USCINCSTRAT ), 1998 -- 2001. 1967 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1944 -- ) 184 abbot ! Charles S. Abbot 1998 - 09 - 01 ! 01 Sep 1998 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command ( DCINCEUR ), 1998 -- 2000. 1966 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1945 -- ) Deputy Director, Office of Homeland Security, 2001 -- 2003. 185 ellis ! James O. Ellis 1999 - 01 - 01 ! 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 blair ! Dennis C. Blair 1999 - 05 - 01 ! 01 May 1999 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command ( USCINCPAC ), 1999 -- 2002. 1968 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1946 -- ) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2003 -- 2006 ; Director of National Intelligence, 2009 -- 2010. 187 clark ! Vernon E. Clark 1999 - 11 - 01 ! 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 fargo ! Thomas B. Fargo 1999 - 12 - 01 ! 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 natter ! Robert J. Natter 2000 - 09 - 01 ! 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. 1967 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1945 -- ) 190 fallon ! William J. Fallon 2000 - 11 - 01 ! 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 johnsongregoryg ! Gregory G. Johnson 2001 - 10 - 24 ! 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. 1969 ( NROTC ) 32 ( 1946 -- ) 192 doran ! Walter F. Doran 2002 - 05 - 04 ! 04 May 2002 Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ), 2002 ; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2002 -- 2005. 1967 ( NROTC ) 35 ( 1945 -- ) 193 giambastiani ! Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. 2002 - 10 - 02 ! 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 mullen ! Michael G. Mullen 2003 - 08 - 28 ! 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 -- 2011. 8 1968 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1946 -- ) 195 nathman ! John B. Nathman 2004 - 12 - 01 ! 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. 1970 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1948 -- ) 196 keating ! Timothy J. Keating 2005 - 01 - 01 - 00 ! 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 donald ! Kirkland H. Donald 2005 - 01 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Jan 2005 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 2004 -- 2012. 8 1975 ( USNA ) 30 ( 1953 -- ) 198 willard ! Robert F. Willard 2005 - 03 - 18 ! 18 Mar 2005 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2005 -- 2007. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2007 -- 2009. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command ( CDRUSPACOM ), 2009 -- 2012. 7 1973 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1950 -- ) 199 ulrich ! Henry G. Ulrich III 2005 - 07 - 22 ! 22 Jul 2005 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples ( COMUSNAVEUR / COMJFC Naples ), 2005 -- 2007. 1972 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1950 -- ) 200 roughead ! Gary Roughead 2005 - 09 - 01 ! 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 -- 2011. 6 1973 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1951 -- ) 201 stavridis ! James G. Stavridis 2006 - 10 - 18 ! 18 Oct 2006 Commander, U.S. Southern Command ( CDRUSSOUTHCOM ), 2006 -- 2009. Commander, U.S. European Command / Supreme Allied Commander Europe ( CDRUSEUCOM / SACEUR ), 2009 -- 2013. 7 1976 ( USNA ) 30 ( 1955 -- ) 202 walsh ! Patrick M. Walsh 2007 - 04 - 05 ! 05 Apr 2007 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2007 -- 2009. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2009 -- 2012. 5 1977 ( USNA ) 30 ( 1955 -- ) 203 olson ! Eric T. Olson 2007 - 07 - 06 ! 06 Jul 2007 Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command ( CDRUSSOCOM ), 2007 -- 2011. 1973 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1952 -- ) First Navy SEAL to achieve the rank of admiral. 204 greenert ! Jonathan W. Greenert 2007 - 09 - 29 ! 29 Sep 2007 Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command ( COMUSFLTFORCOM ), 2007 -- 2009. Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2009 -- 2011. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 2011 -- 2015. 8 1975 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1953 -- ) 205 fitzgerald ! Mark P. Fitzgerald 2007 - 11 - 30 ! 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 -- 2010. 1973 ( NROTC ) 34 ( 1951 -- ) 206 harvey ! John C. Harvey Jr. 2009 - 24 - 07 ! 24 Jul 2009 Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command ( COMUSFLTFORCOM ), 2009 -- 2012. 1973 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1951 -- ) 207 winnefeld ! James A. Winnefeld, Jr. 2010 - 19 - 05 ! 19 May 2010 Commander, U.S. Northern Command / Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command ( CDRUSNORTHCOM / CDRNORAD ), 2010 -- 2011. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff ( VCJCS ), 2011 -- 2015. 5 1978 ( NROTC ) 32 ( 1956 -- ) 208 locklear ! Samuel J. Locklear III 2010 - 10 - 06 ! 06 Oct 2010 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples ( COMUSNAVEUR / COMUSNAVAF / COMJFC Naples ), 2010 -- 2012. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command ( CDRUSPACOM ), 2012 -- 2015. 5 1977 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1954 -- ) 209 mcraven ! William H. McRaven 2011 - 08 - 08 ! 08 Aug 2011 Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command ( CDRUSSOCOM ), 2011 -- 2014. 1977 ( NROTC ) 34 ( 1955 -- ) 210 ferguson ! Mark E. Ferguson III 2011 - 08 - 22 ! 22 Aug 2011 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2011 -- 2014. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples ( COMUSNAVEUR / COMUSNAVAF / COMJFC Naples ), 2014 -- 2016. 5 1978 ( USNA ) 33 ( 1956 -- ) 211 haney ! Cecil D. Haney 2012 - 01 - 20 ! 20 Jan 2012 Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2012 -- 2013. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command ( CDRUSSTRATCOM ), 2013 -- 2016. 1978 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1955 -- ) 212 clingan ! Bruce W. Clingan 2012 - 02 - 24 ! 24 Feb 2012 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples ( COMUSNAVEUR / COMUSNAVAF / COMJFC Naples ), 2012 -- 2014. 1977 ( NROTC ) 34 ( 1955 -- ) 213 gortney ! William E. Gortney 2012 - 09 - 14 ! 14 Sep 2012 Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command ( COMUSFLTFORCOM ), 2012 -- 2014. Commander, U.S. Northern Command / Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command ( CDRUSNORTHCOM / CDRNORAD ), 2014 -- 2016. 1977 ( AOCS ) 35 ( 1955 -- ) 214 richardson ! John M. Richardson 2012 - 11 - 02 ! 02 Nov 2012 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 2012 -- 2015. Chief of Naval Operations ( CNO ), 2015 -- present. 6 1982 ( USNA ) 31 ( 1960 -- ) 215 harris ! Harry B. Harris Jr. 2013 - 10 - 16 ! 16 Oct 2013 Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2013 -- 2015. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command ( CDRUSPACOM ), 2015 -- present. 5 1978 ( USNA ) 35 ( 1956 -- ) First Asian - American to achieve the rank of admiral. 216 rogers ! Michael S. Rogers 2014 - 04 - 03 ! 03 Apr 2014 Director, National Security Agency / Chief, Central Security Service / Commander, U.S. Cyber Command ( DIRNSA / CCSS / COMUSCYBERCOM ), 2014 -- present. 1981 ( NROTC ) 33 ( 1959 -- ) First Information Warfare Community officer to achieve the rank of admiral. 217 howard ! Michelle J. Howard 2014 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 2014 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2014 -- 2016. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, 2016 -- 2017. 1982 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1960 -- ) First woman to achieve the rank of admiral. 218 davidson ! Philip S. Davidson 2014 - 12 - 19 ! 19 Dec 2014 Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command ( COMUSFLTFORCOM ), 2014 -- present. 1982 ( USNA ) 32 ( 1960 -- ) 219 swift ! Scott H. Swift 2015 - 05 - 72 ! 27 May 2015 Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet ( COMPACFLT ), 2015 -- present. 1979 ( AOCS ) 36 ( 1957 -- ) 220 caldwell ! James F. Caldwell, Jr. 2015 - 08 - 14 ! 14 Aug 2015 Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion / Deputy Administrator, NNSA 's Naval Reactors ( NAVSEA 08 ), 2015 -- present. 1981 ( USNA ) 34 ( 1959 -- ) 221 tidd ! Kurt W. Tidd 2016 - 01 - 14 ! 14 Jan 2016 Commander, U.S. Southern Command ( CDRUSSOUTHCOM ), 2016 -- present. 1978 ( USNA ) 38 ( 1956 -- ) 222 moran ! William F. Moran 2016 - 05 - 31 ! 31 May 2016 Vice Chief of Naval Operations ( VCNO ), 2016 -- present. 1981 ( USNA ) 35 ( 19 ? ? -- ) 223 foggo ! James G. Foggo III 2017 - 10 - 20 ! 20 Oct 2017 Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe / Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa / Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, 2017 -- present. 1981 ( USNA ) 36 ( 1959 -- ) 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 all the perks and prestige of the higher rank including the loftier title on their tombstones but no additional retirement pay. The Act of Congress of 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. The practice was terminated in an effort to encourage senior officer retirements prior to the effective date of the change to relieve an overstrength in the senior ranks. 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 Photo Date of rank ( VADM ) Date retired Commission Notes calhoun ! William L. Calhoun 1942 - 06 - 16 ! 16 Jun 1942 1946 - 12 - 00 ! Dec 1946 1906 ( USNA ) ( 1885 -- 1963 ) Great - grandson of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun. fletcher ! Frank J. Fletcher 1942 - 06 - 26 ! 26 Jun 1942 1947 - 05 - 00 ! May 1947 1906 ( USNA ) ( 1885 -- 1973 ) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Nephew of Navy four - star admiral Frank F. Fletcher. fitch ! Aubrey W. Fitch 1942 - 12 - 28 ! 28 Dec 1942 1947 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1947 1906 ( USNA ) ( 1883 -- 1948 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945 -- 1947. hoover ! John Howard Hoover 1943 - 01 - 01 ! 01 Jan 1943 1948 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1948 1906 ( USNA ) ( 1887 -- 1970 ) 5 kirk ! Alan G. Kirk 1944 - 09 - 10 ! 10 Sep 1944 1946 - 03 - 00 ! Mar 1946 1909 ( USNA ) ( 1888 -- 1963 ) U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1946 -- 1947 ; to Soviet Union, 1949 -- 1952 ; to China, 1962 -- 1963. 6 murray ! George D. Murray 1944 - 11 - 29 ! 29 Nov 1944 1951 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1951 1911 ( USNA ) ( 1889 -- 1956 ) 7 oldendorf ! Jesse B. Oldendorf 1944 - 12 - 07 ! 07 Dec 1944 1948 - 09 - 00 ! Sep 1948 1909 ( USNA ) ( 1887 -- 1974 ) 8 carpender ! Arthur S. Carpender 1945 - 04 - 03 ! 03 Apr 1945 1946 - 11 - 00 ! Nov 1946 1908 ( USNA ) ( 1884 -- 1959 ) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948 -- 19 ? ? 9 hill ! Harry W. Hill 1945 - 04 - 22 ! 22 Apr 1945 1952 - 05 - 00 May 1952 1911 ( USNA ) ( 1890 -- 1971 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1950 -- 1952 ; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1952 -- 1954. 10 sherman ! Frederick C. Sherman 1945 - 07 - 13 ! 13 Jul 1945 1947 - 03 - 00 ! Mar 1947 1910 ( USNA ) ( 1880 -- 1957 ) 11 hall ! John L. Hall Jr. 1945 - 12 - 10 ! 10 Dec 1945 1953 - 05 - 00 ! May 1953 1913 ( USNA ) ( 1891 -- 1978 ) 12 badger ! Oscar C. Badger II 1945 - 12 - 13 ! 13 Dec 1945 1952 - 06 - 00 ! Jun 1952 1911 ( USNA ) ( 1890 -- 1958 ) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Cousin of U.S. Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger. 13 price ! John D. Price 1946 - 08 - 31 ! 31 Aug 1946 1954 - 06 - 00 ! Jun 1954 1916 ( USNA ) ( 1892 -- 1957 ) 14 low ! Francis S. Low 1947 - 03 - 12 ! 12 Mar 1947 1956 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1956 1915 ( USNA ) ( 1894 -- 1964 ) 15 bagley ! David W. Bagley 1947 - 04 - 01 ! 01 Apr 1947 1947 - 04 - 00 ! Apr 1947 1904 ( USNA ) ( 1883 -- 1960 ) Father of Navy four - star admiral David H. Bagley and Navy four - star admiral Worth H. Bagley ; grandson of North Carolina Governor Jonathan Worth ; aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels ; wife 's aunt married Navy five - star admiral William D. Leahy. 16 sallada ! Harold B. Sallada 1947 - 05 - 11 ! 11 May 1947 1949 - 10 - 00 ! Oct 1949 1917 ( USNA ) ( 1895 -- 1977 ) 17 struble ! Arthur D. Struble 1948 - 04 - 26 ! 26 Apr 1948 1956 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1956 1915 ( USNA ) ( 1894 -- 1983 ) 18 berkey ! Russell S. Berkey 1948 - 07 - 01 ! 01 Jul 1948 1950 - 09 - 00 ! Sep 1950 1916 ( USNA ) ( 1893 -- 1984 ) 19 reeves ! John W. Reeves, Jr. 1949 - 04 - 01 ! 01 Apr 1949 1950 - 05 - 00 ! May 1950 1911 ( USNA ) ( 1888 -- 1967 ) General Manager, Los Angeles International Airport, 1950 -- 1952. 20 joy ! C. Turner Joy 1949 - 08 - 01 ! 01 Aug 1949 1954 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1954 1916 ( USNA ) ( 1895 -- 1956 ) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1952 -- 1954. 21 sprague ! Thomas L. Sprague 1949 - 08 - 15 ! 15 Aug 1949 1952 - 04 - 00 ! Apr 1952 1917 ( USNA ) ( 1894 -- 1972 ) 22 ballentine ! John J. Ballentine 1949 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1949 1954 - 05 - 00 ! May 1954 1917 ( USNA ) ( 1896 -- 1970 ) 23 gardner ! Matthias B. Gardner 1950 - 10 - 01 ! 01 Oct 1950 1956 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1956 1919 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1975 ) 24 noble ! Albert G. Noble 1950 - 12 - 29 ! 29 Dec 1950 1951 - 10 - 00 ! Oct 1951 1917 ( USNA ) ( 1885 -- 1980 ) 25 martin ! Harold M. Martin 1951 - 02 - 01 ! 01 Feb 1951 1956 - 02 - 00 ! Feb 1956 1919 ( USNA ) ( 1896 -- 1972 ) 26 davis ! Arthur C. Davis 1951 - 02 - 12 ! 12 Feb 1951 1955 - 04 - 00 ! Apr 1955 1915 ( USNA ) ( 1893 -- 1965 ) 27 dubose ! Laurence T. DuBose 1951 - 03 - 30 ! 30 Mar 1951 1955 - 06 - 00 ! Jun 1955 1913 ( USNA ) ( 1893 -- 1967 ) 28 fife ! James Fife Jr. 1951 - 08 - 09 ! 09 Aug 1951 1955 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1955 1918 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1975 ) Director, Mystic Seaport, 1956 -- 1975 29 fahrion ! Frank G. Fahrion 1951 - 12 - 28 ! 28 Dec 1951 1956 - 05 - 00 ! May 1956 1917 ( USNA ) ( 1894 -- 1970 ) 30 clark ! Joseph J. Clark 1952 - 03 - 07 ! 07 Mar 1952 1953 - 12 - 00 ! Dec 1953 1918 ( USNA ) ( 1893 -- 1971 ) 31 good ! Roscoe F. Good 1953 - 03 - 27 ! 27 Mar 1953 1958 - 03 - 00 ! Mar 1958 1919 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1974 ) 32 phillips ! William K. Phillips 1953 - 07 - 28 ! 28 Jul 1953 1955 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1955 1918 ( USNA ) ( 1894 -- 1986 ) 33 gingrich ! John E. Gingrich 1953 - 07 - 30 ! 30 Jul 1953 1954 - 10 - 00 ! Oct 1954 1919 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1960 ) 34 pride ! Alfred M. Pride 1953 - 10 - 09 ! 09 Oct 1953 1959 - 10 - 00 ! Oct 1959 1918 ( OCS ) ( 1897 -- 1988 ) 35 wooldridge ! Edmund T. Wooldridge 1954 - 04 - 06 ! 06 Apr 1954 1958 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1958 1920 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1968 ) 36 doyle ! Austin K. Doyle 1954 - 05 - 07 ! 07 May 1954 1958 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1958 1920 ( USNA ) ( 1898 -- 1970 ) 37 murray ! Stuart S. Murray 1955 - 12 - 07 ! 07 Dec 1955 1956 - 08 - 00 ! Aug 1956 1918 ( USNA ) ( 1898 -- 1980 ) Nephew of Oklahoma governor William H. Murray. 38 glover ! Cato D. Glover Jr. 1955 - 12 - 08 ! 08 Dec 1955 1957 - 09 - 00 ! Sep 1957 1919 ( USNA ) ( 1897 -- 1988 ) 39 will ! John M. Will 1956 - 04 - 17 ! 17 Apr 1956 1959 - 07 - 00 ! Jul 1959 1923 ( USNA ) ( 1899 -- 1981 ) 40 hanlon ! Byron N. Hanlon 1957 - 11 - 01 ! 01 Nov 1957 1958 - 10 - 00 ! 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 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. 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. The rank of fleet admiral was created in 1944, and the four officers promoted to that grade were allowed to remain on active duty permanently. By 1956, the Navy had equilibrated at a total of seven permanent billets bearing four - star rank : the chief of naval operations ( CNO ) ; the vice chief of naval operations ( VCNO ), the commanders in chief of the unified commands in the Pacific ( CINCPAC ) and Atlantic ( CINCLANT ) ; the commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet ( CINCPACFLT ) ; the commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ( CINCNELM ) ( retitled commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ) in 1960 ) ; and the commander in chief of North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) forces in Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ). In 1965, an eighth billet was added when the chief of naval material ( CNM ) was promoted to admiral. Occasionally this count would fluctuate when a Navy officer was selected as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( CJCS ), as the chairman 's four - star representative to the NATO Military Committee ( USMILREP ), or as the director or deputy director of central intelligence ; or by special legislation. When the long - serving director of the naval nuclear reactor program, Hyman G. Rickover, was finally compelled to retire in 1982, his successor was promoted to admiral and appointed director of naval nuclear propulsion, institutionalizing the position as a permanent four - star billet. To compensate, another four - star billet was eliminated by merging Allied Forces Southern Europe with U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Similarly, when the U.S. Atlantic Fleet commander ( CINCLANTFLT ) was separated from the Atlantic unified commander in 1985, the number of four - star billets was conserved by eliminating the chief of naval material position. The U.S. Atlantic Fleet was replaced by U.S. Fleet Forces Command ( 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. See also Admiral ( United States ) List of active duty United States four - star officers List of United States Air Force four - star generals List of United States Army four - star generals List of United States Coast Guard four - star admirals List of United States Marine Corps four - star generals List of United States military leaders by rank List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four - star admirals Notes ^ Jump up to : 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. ^ Jump up to : 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. ^ Jump up to : 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. ^ Jump up to : 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 ). ^ Jump up to : 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. ^ Jump up to : 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. ^ Jump up to : Reverted to permanent rank of rear admiral upon vacating an office bearing the temporary rank of admiral. ^ Jump up to : Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 21 Jun 1930, as highest grade held during World War I. ^ Jump up to : Commissioned as ensign after two years of sea duty. ^ Jump up to : Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 16 Jun 1942, as highest rank held on the active list. ^ Jump up to : Advanced to admiral on the retired list with date of rank 14 Aug 1938, as highest rank held while Chief of Naval Operations. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ 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 ). Jump up ^ 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. ^ Jump up to : Retired as admiral, as highest rank held on active list. Jump up ^ Retired as admiral, Jul 1942, by Act of Congress ; recalled as admiral, Jul 1942 ; retired, Feb 1945. Jump up ^ Promoted to admiral, 1947, with date of rank 07 Jan 1946. ^ Jump up to : Reverted to vice admiral for final tour ; retired as admiral. Jump up ^ Reverted to vice admiral for final tour ; died in office. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Nomination as U.S. Secretary of Defense withdrawn, 1994. ^ Jump up to : 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. Jump up ^ Nomination as commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Command ( USCINCPAC ) withdrawn, 1994. Jump up ^ Transferred from U.S. Merchant Marine, 1967. Jump up ^ Retired as vice admiral, Dec 1946 ; advanced to admiral on the retired list by reason of combat citation, Jan 1954. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2010 - 12 - 24. Retrieved 2008 - 11 - 16. Struble entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1911 and received his commission in 1915. Jump up ^ Transferred from U.S. Naval Reserve, 1921. Jump up ^ Act of Congress of July 16, 1942. References Air Force Association ( May 2006 ), `` USAF Almanac 2006 '' ( PDF ), Air Force Magazine, 89 ( 5 ), archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2007 - 07 - 10 Cole, Ronald H. ; Poole, Walter S. ; Schnabel, James F. ; Watson, Robert J. ; Webb, Willard J. ( 1995 ), The History of the Unified Command Plan, 1946 - 1993 ( PDF ), Washington D.C. : Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Heaton, Dean R. ( 1995 ), Four Stars : The Super Stars of United States Military History, Baltimore : Gateway Press Naval Historical Center, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Washington D.C. : Department of the Navy Oden, Archibald Jr. ( 1919 ), Navy Yearbook, Washington D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office Reynolds, Clark G. ( 1978 ), Famous American Admirals, Annapolis : Naval Institute Press U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel ( 1945, 1950 -- 1984 ), Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, Washington D.C. : Department of the Navy Check date values in : date = ( help ) 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, Washington D.C. : Department of the Navy U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel ( 2003 ), Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the USN, NAVPERS 15939 ( PDF ), Washington D.C. : Department of the Navy, archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2006 - 10 - 28 U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel ( 2006 ), Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Active Duty List, NAVPERS 15018 ( PDF ), Washington D.C. : Department of the Navy, archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2006 - 10 - 28 U.S. Naval Forces Europe / U.S. SIXTH Fleet, Chronology of Commanders, archived from the original ( -- ) on January 6, 2008 Wheeler, Gerald E. ( 1974 ), Admiral William Veazie Pratt, U.S. Navy : A Sailor 's Life, Washington D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office World Almanac and Book of Facts, New York : World Almanac Education Group, Inc., 1946 -- 1947, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2006 Check date values in : date = ( help ) ; Missing or empty title = ( help ) United States Navy Portal Leadership Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4 - star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower Structure Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine Units Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Pacific Fleet Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Reserve Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Command Naval Supply Systems Command Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Navy Occupational Safety & Health Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Fleets Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A -- B D -- F G -- H I -- K N -- O Q -- R T -- V W -- Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats Personnel and training People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief Deputy Chief Explosive ordnance disposal Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps JAG DJAG NCIS Boatswain 's mates Hospital corpsman Naval Aviator SEALs Seabees Master - at - arms Operations specialist SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit Naval Academy Officer Candidate School STA - 21 NROTC BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School Naval Postgraduate School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Naval War College Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Equipment Uniforms Awards and decorations Badges Current fleet Reserve fleet Aircraft Weapons Naval reactors History and traditions History `` Anchors Aweigh '' Blue Angels Ceremonial Barge Chesapeake Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line - crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Navy Weeks Revolt of the Admirals Sailor 's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Tingey House USS Constitution Wetting - down United States battleship retirement debate Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_United_States_Navy_four-star_admirals&oldid=831166391 '' Categories : Lists of admirals Lists of American military personnel Military ranks of the United States Navy United States Navy admirals United States Navy lists 4 star officers Hidden categories : CS1 errors : dates Pages with citations lacking titles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 19 March 2018, at 03 : 30. 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Question: who is the highest ranking officer in the navy
Answer: admiral