# List of United States Navy four-star admirals

The rank of admiral (or full admiral, or four-star admiral) is the highest rank normally achievable in the United States Navy. It ranks above vice admiral (three-star admiral) and below fleet admiral (five-star admiral).
There have been 279 four-star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy. Of these, 238 achieved that rank while on active duty, 40 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations, and one was promoted posthumously. Admirals entered the Navy via several paths: 238 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 25 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), nine via Officer Candidate School (OCS), two via warrant, two via Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), one via direct commission (direct), one via the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) program, and one via the U.S. Merchant Marine.

## List of admirals

Entries in the following list of four-star admirals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the admiral's name, date of rank, 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.
| # | Name | Date of rank | Position | Yrs | Commission | YC | Notes |
| 1 | David G. Farragut | 25 Jul 1866 | Admiral of the Navy, 1866–1870. Commander, European Squadron, 1867–1868. | 4 | 1810 (warrant) | 56 | (1801–1870) Brother-by-adoption of Navy four-star admiral David D. Porter Jr. |
| 2 | David D. Porter Jr. | 15 Aug 1870 | Admiral of the Navy, 1870–1891. Head, Board of Inspection, 1877–1891. | 21 | 1829 (warrant) | 41 | (1813–1891) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1865–1869. Brother-by-adoption of Navy four-star admiral David G. Farragut. |
| 3 | George Dewey | 2 Mar 1899 | Commander, Asiatic Station, 1898–1899. President, General Board of the Navy, 1900–1917. | 18 | 1858 (USNA) | 41 | (1837–1917) Promoted to admiral, 8 Mar 1899 but was promoted to Admiral of the Navy, 24 Mar 1903, with retroactive date of rank 2 Mar 1899. Candidate for Democratic Party nomination for U.S. President, 1900. |
| 4 | Frank F. Fletcher | 10 Mar 1915 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1914–1916. | 2 | 1875 (USNA) | 40 | (1855–1928) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Frank J. Fletcher. |
| 5 | Thomas B. Howard | 11 Mar 1915 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1914–1915. | 1 | 1873 (USNA) | 42 | (1854–1920) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Observatory, 1917–1919. |
| 6 | Walter C. Cowles | 12 Mar 1915 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1914–1915. | 1 | 1873 (USNA) | 42 | (1853–1917) |
| 7 | Albert G. Winterhalter | 9 Jul 1915 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1915–1917. | 2 | 1877 (USNA) | 38 | (1856–1920) |
| 8 | Cameron M. Winslow | 13 Sep 1915 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1915–1916. | 1 | 1875 (USNA) | 40 | (1854–1932) |
| 9 | Henry T. Mayo | 19 Jun 1916 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1916–1919. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1919. | 3 | 1876 (USNA) | 41 | (1857–1937) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1924–1928. |
| 10 | William B. Caperton | 28 Jul 1916 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1916–1919. | 3 | 1875 (USNA) | 41 | (1855–1941) Special Representative of the President in Brazil, 1918. |
| 11 | William S. Benson | 29 Aug 1916 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1915–1919. | 3 | 1877 (USNA) | 39 | (1855–1932) Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Shipping Board, 1919–1928. |
| 12 | Austin M. Knight | 4 Apr 1917 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1917–1918. | 1 | 1873 (USNA) | 44 | (1854–1927) President, Naval War College, 1913–1917. Brother of Seattle Mayor Bertha Knight Landes. |
| 13 | William S. Sims | 4 Dec 1918 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, 1917–1919. | 2 | 1880 (USNA) | 38 | (1858–1936) President, Naval War College, 1917; 1919–1922. Awarded Pulitzer Prize for History, 1921. |
| 14 | Henry B. Wilson Jr. | 30 Jun 1919 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1919–1921. | 2 | 1881 (USNA) | 38 | (1861–1954) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1921–1925. Father-in-law of U.S. Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley. |
| 15 | Hugh Rodman | 1 Jul 1919 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1919–1921. | 2 | 1880 (USNA) | 39 | (1859–1940) U.S. Minister and Envoy to Peru, 1921. |
| 16 | Albert Gleaves | 1 Sep 1919 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1919–1921. | 2 | 1877 (USNA) | 42 | (1858–1937) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1928–1931. |
| 17 | Robert E. Coontz | 1 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 | Joseph Strauss | 4 Feb 1921 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1921–1922. | 1 | 1885 (USNA) | 36 | (1861–1948) |
| 19 | Hilary P. Jones | 30 Jun 1921 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1921–1922. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1922–1923. | 2 | 1884 (USNA) | 37 | (1865–1939) |
| 20 | Edward W. Eberle | 5 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 | Edwin A. Anderson | 28 Aug 1922 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1922–1923. | 1 | 1882 (USNA) | 40 | (1860–1933) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. |
| 22 | Samuel S. Robison | 30 Jun 1923 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1923–1925. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1925–1926. | 3 | 1888 (USNA) | 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 | Thomas Washington | 11 Oct 1923 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1923–1925. | 2 | 1887 (USNA) | 36 | (1865–1954) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1931–1937. |
| 24 | Charles F. Hughes | 14 Oct 1925 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1925–1926. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1926–1927. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1927–1930. | 5 | 1888 (USNA) | 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 | Clarence S. Williams | 14 Oct 1925 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1925–1927. | 2 | 1884 (USNA) | 41 | (1863–1951) President, Naval War College, 1922–1925. |
| 26 | Richard H. Jackson | 4 Sep 1926 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1926–1927. | 1 | 1887 (USNA) | 39 | (1866–1971) Distant cousin of Air Force four-star general Charles P. Cabell. |
| 27 | Henry A. Wiley | 8 Sep 1927 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1927–1929. | 2 | 1888 (USNA) | 39 | (1867–1943) Chairman/Commissioner, U.S. Maritime Commission, 1936–1940. |
| 28 | Mark L. Bristol | 9 Sep 1927 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1927–1929. | 2 | 1887 (USNA) | 40 | (1868–1939) U.S. High Commissioner, Turkey, 1919–1927. |
| 29 | Louis R. de Steiguer | 10 Sep 1927 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1927–1928. | 1 | 1889 (USNA) | 38 | (1867–1947) |
| 30 | William V. Pratt | 26 Jun 1928 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1928–1929. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1929–1930. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1930–1933. | 5 | 1889 (USNA) | 39 | (1869–1957) President, Naval War College, 1925–1927. |
| 31 | Louis M. Nulton | 21 May 1929 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1929–1930. | 1 | 1889 (USNA) | 40 | (1869–1954) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1925–1928. |
| 32 | Charles B. McVay Jr. | 9 Sep 1929 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1929–1931. | 2 | 1890 (USNA) | 39 | (1868–1949) |
| 33 | Frank H. Schofield | 24 May 1930 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT), 1930–1931. Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1931. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1931–1932. | 2 | 1890 (USNA) | 40 | (1869–1942) |
| 34 | Jehu V. Chase | 17 Sep 1930 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1930–1931. | 1 | 1890 (USNA) | 40 | (1869–1937) Great-grandfather of Navy four-star admiral James F. Caldwell Jr. |
| 35 | Montgomery M. Taylor | 1 Sep 1931 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1931–1933. | 2 | 1890 (USNA) | 41 | (1869–1952) Grandnephew of U.S. President Zachary Taylor; distant cousin of Army four-star general Montgomery C. Meigs. |
| 36 | Richard H. Leigh | 15 Sep 1931 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1931–1932. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1932–1933. | 2 | 1891 (USNA) | 40 | (1870–1946) |
| 37 | Luke McNamee | 11 Aug 1932 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1932–1933. | 1 | 1892 (USNA) | 40 | (1871–1952) Governor of Guam, 1907; Director of Naval Intelligence, 1921–1923; President, Naval War College, 1933–1934. |
| 38 | William H. Standley | 20 May 1933 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1933–1937. | 4 | 1895 (USNA) | 38 | (1872–1963) U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1942–1943. |
| 39 | David F. Sellers | 10 Jun 1933 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1933–1934. | 1 | 1894 (USNA) | 39 | (1874–1949) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1934–1938. |
| 40 | Joseph M. Reeves | 1 Jul 1933 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1933–1934. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1934–1936. | 3 | 1894 (USNA) | 39 | (1872–1948) |
| 41 | Frank B. Upham | 18 Aug 1933 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1933–1935. | 2 | 1893 (USNA) | 40 | (1872–1939) Married aunt of Navy four-star admiral Robert B. Carney. |
| 42 | Frank H. Brumby | 15 Jun 1934 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1934–1935. | 1 | 1895 (USNA) | 39 | (1874–1950) |
| 43 | Harris Laning | 1 Apr 1935 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1935–1936. | 1 | 1895 (USNA) | 40 | (1873–1941) President, Naval War College, 1930–1933; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1937–1941. |
| 44 | Orin G. Murfin | 4 Oct 1935 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1935–1936. | 1 | 1897 (USNA) | 38 | (1876–1956) |
| 45 | William D. Leahy | 30 Mar 1936 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1936–1937. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1937–1939. Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Army and Navy, 1942–1949. | 5 | 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 | Arthur J. Hepburn | 24 Jun 1936 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1936–1938. | 2 | 1897 (USNA) | 39 | (1877–1964) |
| 47 | Harry E. Yarnell | 30 Oct 1936 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1936–1939. | 3 | 1897 (USNA) | 39 | (1875–1959) |
| 48 | Claude C. Bloch | 2 Jan 1937 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1937–1938. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1938–1940. | 3 | 1899 (USNA) | 38 | (1878–1967) |
| 49 | Edward C. Kalbfus | 29 Jan 1938 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1938–1939. | 1 | 1899 (USNA) | 39 | (1877–1954) President, Naval War College, 1934–1936; 1939–1942. |
| 50 | James O. Richardson | 24 Jun 1939 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1939–1940. Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), 1940–1941. | 2 | 1902 (USNA) | 37 | (1878–1974) Relieved, 1941. |
| 51 | Thomas C. Hart | 25 Jul 1939 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF), 1939–1942. | 3 | 1897 (USNA) | 42 | (1877–1971) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1931–1934; U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1945–1946. |
| 52 | Harold R. Stark | 1 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 | Charles P. Snyder | 6 Jan 1940 | Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet (COMBATFOR), 1940–1941. | 1 | 1900 (USNA) | 40 | (1879–1964) President, Naval War College, 1937–1939. |
| 54 | Husband E. Kimmel | 1 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 | Ernest J. King | 1 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. | 3 | 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 | Chester W. Nimitz | 31 Dec 1941 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), 1941–1943. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1943–1944. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1944–1945. | 3 | 1905 (USNA) | 36 | (1885–1966) Promoted to fleet admiral, 19 Dec 1944. Brother married daughter of Navy four-star admiral Charles F. Hughes. |
| 57 | Royal E. Ingersoll | 1 Jul 1942 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1941–1944. Commander, Western Sea Frontier (COMWESTSEAFRON), 1944–1946. Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCOMINCH/DCNO), 1944–1945. | 3 | 1905 (USNA) | 37 | (1883–1976) |
| 58 | William F. Halsey Jr. | 18 Nov 1942 | Commander, South Pacific Area/Commander, South Pacific Force (COMSOPAC/COMSOPACFOR), 1942–1944. Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 1944–1945. | 2 | 1904 (USNA) | 38 | (1882–1959) Promoted to fleet admiral, 4 Dec 1945. |
| 59 | Raymond A. Spruance | 16 Feb 1944 | Commander, Central Pacific Force (COMCENPACFOR), 1943–1944. Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), 1944–1945. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1945–1946. President, Naval War College, 1946–1948. | 4 | 1906 (USNA) | 38 | (1886–1969) U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, 1952–1955. |
| 60 | Jonas H. Ingram | 15 Nov 1944 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT), 1944–1946. | 2 | 1909 (USNA) | 35 | (1886–1952) Commissioner, All-America Football Conference, 1947–1949. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. |
| 61 | Frederick J. Horne | 15 Dec 1944 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1942–1945. | 1 | 1899 (USNA) | 45 | (1880–1959) |
| 62 | Richard S. Edwards Jr. | 3 Apr 1945 | Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCOMINCH/DCNO), 1944–1945. Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1945–1946. Commander, Western Sea Frontier/Commander, Pacific Reserve Fleet (COMWESTSEAFRON/COMPACRESFLT), 1946–1947. | 2 | 1907 (USNA) | 38 | (1885–1956) |
| 63 | H. Kent Hewitt | 3 Apr 1945 | Commander, U.S. Eighth Fleet (COMEIGHTHFLT), 1943–1945. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR), 1945–1946. U.S. Naval Representative, U.N. Military Staff Committee (USNAVYMILCOMUNO), 1947–1949. | 4 | 1907 (USNA) | 38 | (1887–1972) |
| 64 | Thomas C. Kinkaid | 3 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 | Richmond K. Turner | 24 May 1945 | Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific (COMPHIBPAC), 1944–1945. U.S Naval Representative, U.N. Military Staff Committee (USNAVYMILCOMUNO), 1945–1947. | 2 | 1908 (USNA) | 37 | (1885–1961) |
| 66 | Samuel M. Robinson | 27 Aug 1945 | Director, Office of Procurement and Material, 1942–1946. | 1 | 1903 (USNA) | 42 | (1882–1972) Administrator, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, 1946–1951. First staff corps officer to attain rank of admiral. |
| * | John S. McCain Sr. | 6 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 | John H. Towers | 7 Nov 1945 | Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), 1945–1946. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPOA), 1946–1947. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947. Chairman, General Board of the Navy, 1947. | 2 | 1906 (USNA) | 39 | (1885–1955) |
| 68 | DeWitt C. Ramsey | 28 Dec 1945 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1946–1948. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1948–1949. | 4 | 1912 (USNA) | 33 | (1888–1961) |
| 69 | Louis E. Denfeld | 7 Jan 1946 | Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/Military Governor of the Marshall, Caroline, and Mariana Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1947. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1947–1949. | 2 | 1912 (USNA) | 34 | (1891–1972) Candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, 1950. Relieved, 1949. |
| 70 | Charles M. Cooke Jr. | 8 Jan 1946 | Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 1946–1947. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Western Pacific (COMNAVWESPAC), 1947–1948. | 2 | 1910 (USNA) | 36 | (1886–1970) |
| 71 | Marc A. Mitscher | 1 Mar 1946 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1946–1947. | 1 | 1910 (USNA) | 36 | (1887–1947) Died in office. |
| 72 | Ben Moreell | 11 Jun 1946 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1946. | 0 | 1917 (direct) | 29 | (1892–1978) |
| 73 | Richard L. Conolly | 23 Sep 1946 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMNAVEUR), 1946. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (COMNAVEASTLANTMED), 1946–1947. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNAVEASTLANTMED), 1947–1948. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM), 1948–1950. | 4 | 1914 (USNA) | 32 | (1892–1962) President, Naval War College, 1950–1953; President, Long Island University, 1953–1962. |
| 74 | William H.P. Blandy | 3 Feb 1947 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1947. Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1947–1950. | 3 | 1913 (USNA) | 34 | (1890–1954) |
| 75 | Arthur W. Radford | 7 Apr 1949 | Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet/High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1949–1951. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1951–1953. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1953–1957. | 8 | 1916 (USNA) | 33 | (1896–1973) Married aunt of Army four-star general Michael S. Davison. |
| 76 | Forrest P. Sherman | 2 Nov 1949 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1949–1951. | 2 | 1917 (USNA) | 32 | (1896–1951) Died in office. |
| 77 | William M. Fechteler | 1 Feb 1950 | Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1950–1951. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1951–1953. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1953–1956. | 6 | 1916 (USNA) | 34 | (1896–1967) |
| 78 | Robert B. Carney | 2 Oct 1950 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM), 1950–1951. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCSOUTH/CINCNELM), 1951–1952. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1952–1953. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1953–1955. | 5 | 1916 (USNA) | 34 | (1895–1990) Aunt married Navy four-star admiral Frank B. Upham. |
| 79 | Lynde D. McCormick | 22 Dec 1950 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1950–1951. Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1951–1952. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1952–1954. | 4 | 1915 (USNA) | 35 | (1895–1956) President, Naval War College, 1954–1956. |
| 80 | Donald B. Duncan | 9 Aug 1951 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1951–1956. | 5 | 1917 (USNA) | 34 | (1896–1975) Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1957–1962. Brother-in-law of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Harry L. Hopkins. |
| 81 | Felix B. Stump | 27 Jun 1953 | Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC/CINCPACFLT), 1953–1958. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1958. | 5 | 1917 (USNA) | 36 | (1894–1972) |
| 82 | Jerauld Wright | 6 Apr 1954 | Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1954–1960. | 6 | 1917 (USNA) | 37 | (1898–1995) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1963–1965. |
| 83 | John H. Cassady | 7 Apr 1954 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM), 1954–1956. | 2 | 1918 (USNA) | 36 | (1896–1969) |
| 84 | Arleigh A. Burke | 6 Jun 1955 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1955–1961. | 6 | 1923 (USNA) | 32 | (1901–1996) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1977. |
| 85 | Robert P. Briscoe | 30 Apr 1956 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1956–1959. | 3 | 1918 (USNA) | 38 | (1897–1968) |
| 86 | Walter F. Boone | 1 May 1956 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM), 1956–1958. U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1958–1960. | 4 | 1920 (USNA) | 36 | (1898–1995) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1954–1956; Deputy Associate Administrator for Defense Affairs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1962–1968. |
| 87 | Harry D. Felt | 1 Sep 1956 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1956–1958. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1958–1964. | 8 | 1923 (USNA) | 33 | (1902–1992) |
| 88 | Maurice E. Curts | 29 Apr 1957 | Deputy Commander in Chief, Pacific Command/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (DCINCPAC/DCINCPACFLT), 1955–1958. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1958. | 1 | 1919 (USNA) | 38 | (1898–1976) |
| 89 | James L. Holloway Jr. | 1 Jan 1958 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean/Commander in Chief, Specified Command Middle East (CINCNELM/CINCSPECOMME), 1958–1959. | 1 | 1918 (USNA) | 40 | (1898–1984) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1947–1950; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1962–1966. Father of Navy four-star admiral James L. Holloway III. |
| 90 | Herbert G. Hopwood | 1 Feb 1958 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1958–1960. | 2 | 1919 (USNA) | 39 | (1898–1966) |
| 91 | James S. Russell | 21 Jul 1958 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1958–1961. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1961–1965. | 7 | 1926 (USNA) | 32 | (1903–1996) |
| 92 | Charles R. Brown | 1 Jan 1959 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1959–1961. | 2 | 1921 (USNA) | 38 | (1899–1983) |
| 93 | Robert L. Dennison | 1 Feb 1959 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean/Commander in Chief, Specified Command Middle East (CINCNELM/CINCSPECOMME), 1959–1960. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1960–1963. | 4 | 1923 (USNA) | 36 | (1901–1980) |
| 94 | Harold Page Smith | 1 Feb 1960 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1960–1963. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1963–1965. | 5 | 1924 (USNA) | 36 | (1904–1993) Uncle of Navy four-star admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr. |
| 95 | John H. Sides | 1 Mar 1960 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1960–1963. | 3 | 1925 (USNA) | 35 | (1904–1978) |
| 96 | George W. Anderson Jr. | 1 Aug 1961 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1961–1963. | 2 | 1927 (USNA) | 34 | (1906–1992) U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, 1963–1966. |
| 97 | Claude V. Ricketts | 1 Nov 1961 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1961–1964. | 3 | 1929 (USNA) | 32 | (1906–1964) Died in office. |
| 98 | David L. McDonald | 1 Apr 1963 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1963. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1963–1967. | 4 | 1928 (USNA) | 35 | (1906–1997) |
| 99 | Charles D. Griffin | 26 Jun 1963 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCNELM), 1963. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1963–1965. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1965–1968. | 5 | 1927 (USNA) | 36 | (1906–1996) |
| 100 | U.S. Grant Sharp Jr. | 27 Sep 1963 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1963–1964. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1964–1968. | 5 | 1927 (USNA) | 36 | (1906–2001) Great-aunt married U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. |
| 101 | Thomas H. Moorer | 26 Jun 1964 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1964–1965. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1965–1967. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1967–1970. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1970–1974. | 10 | 1933 (USNA) | 31 | (1912–2004) |
| 102 | Horacio Rivero Jr. | 31 Jul 1964 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1964–1968. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1968–1972. | 8 | 1931 (USNA) | 33 | (1910–2000) U.S. Ambassador to Spain, 1972–1974. |
| 103 | John S. Thach | 25 Mar 1965 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1965–1967. | 2 | 1927 (USNA) | 38 | (1905–1981) |
| 104 | Alfred G. Ward | 27 Mar 1965 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1965–1968. | 3 | 1932 (USNA) | 33 | (1909–1982) |
| 105 | Roy L. Johnson | 31 Mar 1965 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1965–1967. | 2 | 1929 (USNA) | 36 | (1906–1999) |
| 106 | John S. McCain Jr. | 1 May 1967 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1967–1968. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1968–1972. | 5 | 1931 (USNA) | 36 | (1911–1981) Son of Navy four-star admiral John S. McCain Sr.; father of U.S. Senator John S. McCain III. |
| 107 | Ignatius J. Galantin | 19 May 1967 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1965–1970. | 3 | 1933 (USNA) | 34 | (1910–2004) |
| 108 | Ephraim P. Holmes | 17 Jun 1967 | Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1967–1970. | 3 | 1930 (USNA) | 37 | (1908–1997) |
| 109 | John J. Hyland Jr. | 1 Dec 1967 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1967–1970. | 3 | 1934 (USNA) | 33 | (1912–1998) |
| 110 | Bernard A. Clarey | 17 Jan 1968 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1968–1970. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1970–1973. | 5 | 1934 (USNA) | 34 | (1912–1996) |
| 111 | Waldemar F.A. Wendt | 12 Jul 1968 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1968–1971. | 3 | 1933 (USNA) | 35 | (1912–1997) |
| 112 | Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. | 1 Jul 1970 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1970–1974. | 4 | 1942 (USNA) | 28 | (1920–2000) Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1976. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1998. |
| 113 | Charles K. Duncan | 1 Sep 1970 | Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1970–1972. | 2 | 1933 (USNA) | 37 | (1911–1994) |
| 114 | Jackson D. Arnold | 14 Oct 1970 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1970–1971. | 1 | 1934 (USNA) | 36 | (1912–2007) First restricted line officer to attain rank of admiral. |
| 115 | Ralph W. Cousins | 1970-10-3030 Oct 1970 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1970–1972. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1972–1975. | 5 | 1937 (USNA) | 33 | (1915–2009) |
| 116 | William F. Bringle | 1 Jul 1971 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1971–1973. | 2 | 1937 (USNA) | 34 | (1913–1999) |
| 117 | Isaac C. Kidd Jr. | 1 Dec 1971 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1971–1975. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1975–1978. | 7 | 1942 (USNA) | 29 | (1919–1999) |
| 118 | Richard G. Colbert | 1 Jun 1972 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1972–1973. | 1 | 1937 (USNA) | 35 | (1915–1973) President, Naval War College, 1968–1971. |
| 119 | Noel A.M. Gayler | 1 Sep 1972 | Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1972–1976. | 4 | 1935 (USNA) | 37 | (1914–2011) Director, National Security Agency, 1969–1972. |
| 120 | Maurice F. Weisner | 1 Sep 1972 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1972–1973. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1973–1976. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1976–1979. | 7 | 1941 (USNA) | 31 | (1917–2006) |
| 121 | James L. Holloway III | 1 Sep 1973 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1973–1974. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1974–1978. | 5 | 1942 (USNA) | 31 | (1922–2019) Son of Navy four-star admiral James L. Holloway Jr. |
| 122 | Worth H. Bagley | 1 Sep 1973 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1973–1974. Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1974–1975. | 2 | 1947 (USNA) | 26 | (1924–2016) 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 | Hyman G. Rickover | 16 Nov 1973 | Director, Naval Reactors Branch, Atomic Energy Commission/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Ship Systems Command, 1966–1974. Director, Naval Reactors Branch, Atomic Energy Commission/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1974–1975. Director, Division of Naval Reactors, Energy Research and Development Administration/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1975–1977. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy/Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, 1977–1982. | 9 | 1922 (USNA) | 51 | (1900–1986) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1980; Congressional Gold Medal, 1958 and 1982. |
| 124 | Means Johnston Jr. | 25 Nov 1973 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1973–1975. | 2 | 1939 (USNA) | 34 | (1916–1989) |
| 125 | Harold E. Shear | 24 May 1974 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1974–1975. Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1975–1977. Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1977–1980. | 6 | 1942 (USNA) | 32 | (1918–1999) Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, 1981–1985. |
| 126 | John P. Weinel | 2 Aug 1974 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1974–1977. | 3 | 1939 (USNA) | 35 | (1916–2004) |
| 127 | Frederick H. Michaelis | 19 Apr 1975 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1975–1978. | 3 | 1940 (USNA) | 35 | (1917–1992) |
| 128 | David H. Bagley | 21 May 1975 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR), 1975–1977. | 2 | 1943 (USNA) | 32 | (1920–1992) Son of Navy four-star admiral David W. Bagley; brother of Navy four-star admiral Worth H. Bagley; great-aunt married Navy five-star admiral William D. Leahy; great-aunt married U.S. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. |
| 129 | Stansfield Turner | 1 Sep 1975 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1975–1977. Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), 1977–1981. | 4 | 1946 (USNA) | 29 | (1923–2018) President, Naval War College, 1972–1974. |
| 130 | Daniel J. Murphy | 28 May 1976 | Deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence for the Intelligence Community (D/DCI/IC), 1976–1977. | 1 | 1943 (OCS) | 33 | (1922–2001) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1977–1981; Chief of Staff to the U.S. Vice President, 1981–1985. |
| 131 | Thomas B. Hayward | 12 Aug 1976 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1976–1978. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1978–1982. | 6 | 1947 (USNA) | 29 | (1924–2022) |
| 132 | Robert L. J. Long | 5 Jul 1977 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1977–1979. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1979–1983. | 6 | 1943 (USNA) | 34 | (1920–2002) |
| 133 | Donald C. Davis | 9 May 1978 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1978–1981. | 3 | 1943 (USNA) | 35 | (1921–1998) |
| 134 | Alfred J. Whittle Jr. | 1 Aug 1978 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1978–1981. | 3 | 1945 (USNA) | 33 | (1924–1993) |
| 135 | Harry D. Train II | 1 Oct 1978 | Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1978–1982. | 4 | 1949 (USNA) | 29 | (1927–    ) |
| 136 | James D. Watkins | 18 Sep 1979 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1979–1981. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1981–1982. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1982–1986. | 7 | 1949 (USNA) | 30 | (1927–2012) Chairman, Watkins Commission, 1987–1988; U.S. Secretary of Energy, 1989–1993. |
| 137 | William J. Crowe Jr. | 30 May 1980 | Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), 1980–1983. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1983. Commander in Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), 1983. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1983–1985. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 1985–1989. | 9 | 1947 (USNA) | 33 | (1925–2007) Chairman, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, 1993–1994; U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1994–1997. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2000. |
| 138 | Bobby R. Inman | 12 Feb 1981 | Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1981–1982. | 1 | 1952 (OCS) | 29 | (1931–    ) Director of Naval Intelligence, 1974–1976; Director, National Security Agency, 1977–1981. First naval intelligence specialist to attain rank of admiral. |
| 139 | William N. Small | 1 Jul 1981 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1981–1983. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1983–1985. | 4 | 1948 (USNA) | 33 | (1927–2016) |
| 140 | John G. Williams Jr. | 1 Jul 1981 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1981–1983. | 2 | 1947 (USNA) | 34 | (1924–1991) |
| 141 | George E.R. Kinnear II | 31 Jul 1981 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1981–1982. | 1 | 1948 (OCS) | 33 | (1928–2015) |
| 142 | Kinnaird R. McKee | 2 Mar 1982 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1982–1988. | 6 | 1951 (USNA) | 31 | (1929–2013) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1975–1978. |
| 143 | Sylvester R. Foley Jr. | 28 May 1982 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1982–1985. | 3 | 1950 (USNA) | 32 | (1928–2019) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs, 1985–1988. |
| 144 | Wesley L. McDonald | 1 Oct 1982 | Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/CINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1982–1983. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SACLANT/USCINCLANT/CINCLANTFLT), 1983–1985. | 3 | 1946 (USNA) | 36 | (1924–2009) |
| 145 | Ronald J. Hays | 29 Apr 1983 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1983–1985. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1985–1988. | 5 | 1950 (USNA) | 33 | (1928–2021) |
| 146 | Steven A. White | 1 Aug 1983 | Chief of Naval Material (CNM), 1983–1985. | 2 | 1952 (NROTC) | 31 | (1928–2021) Manager of Nuclear Power, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1986–1988. |
| 147 | Lee Baggett Jr. | 30 May 1985 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1985. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1985–1988. | 3 | 1950 (USNA) | 35 | (1927–1999) |
| 148 | James A. Lyons Jr. | 16 Sep 1985 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1985–1987. | 2 | 1952 (USNA) | 33 | (1927–2018) |
| 149 | Carlisle A.H. Trost | 4 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 | (1930–2020) |
| 150 | James B. Busey IV | 17 Oct 1985 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1985–1987. Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1987–1989. | 4 | 1954 (NAVCAD) | 31 | (1932–2023) Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, 1989–1991; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, 1991–1992. |
| 151 | Arthur S. Moreau Jr. | 15 Nov 1985 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1985–1986. | 1 | 1953 (USNA) | 32 | (1931–1986) Died in office. |
| 152 | Frank B. Kelso II | 13 Jun 1986 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (CINCLANTFLT/DCINCLANT), 1986. Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1986–1988. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1988–1990. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1990–1994. | 8 | 1956 (USNA) | 30 | (1933–2013) |
| 153 | Huntington Hardisty | 11 Mar 1987 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1987–1988. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1988–1991. | 4 | 1952 (USNA) | 35 | (1929–2003) President, Naval War College, 1977. |
| 154 | Powell F. Carter Jr. | 1 Oct 1987 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1987–1988. Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1988–1991. | 4 | 1955 (USNA) | 32 | (1931–2017) |
| 155 | David E. Jeremiah | 1 Oct 1987 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1987–1990. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 1990–1994. | 7 | 1956 (OCS) | 32 | (1934–2013) |
| 156 | Leon A. Edney | 1 Oct 1988 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1988–1990. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1990–1992. | 4 | 1957 (USNA) | 31 | (1935–    ) |
| 157 | Bruce DeMars | 1 Nov 1988 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1988–1996. | 8 | 1957 (USNA) | 31 | (1935–2024) |
| 158 | James R. Hogg | 1 Dec 1988 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1988–1991. | 3 | 1956 (USNA) | 32 | (1934–2025) |
| 159 | Jonathan T. Howe | 1 Jun 1989 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1989–1991. Deputy National Security Advisor, 1991–1993. | 3 | 1957 (USNA) | 32 | (1935–    ) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Politico-Military Affairs, 1982–1984; Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General for Somalia, 1993–1994. |
| 160 | Charles R. Larson | 1 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 | Jerome L. Johnson | 1 Jul 1990 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1990–1992. | 2 | 1956 (NROTC) | 34 | (1935–    ) |
| 162 | Paul D. Miller | 1 Feb 1991 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1991–1992. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCLANT), 1992–1993. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCACOM), 1993–1994. | 3 | 1964 (OCS) | 27 | (1941–    ) |
| 163 | William D. Smith | 22 Feb 1991 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 1991–1993. | 2 | 1955 (USNA) | 36 | (1933–2020) |
| 164 | Robert J. Kelly | 1 Mar 1991 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1991–1994. | 3 | 1959 (USNA) | 32 | (1938–    ) |
| 165 | Jeremy M. Boorda | 2 Mar 1992 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1991–1994. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1994–1996. | 4 | 1962 (OCS) | 30 | (1938–1996) Died in office. |
| 166 | William O. Studeman | 9 Apr 1992 | Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI), 1992–1995. | 3 | 1962 (NROTC) | 30 | (1940–    ), Director of Naval Intelligence, 1985–1988; Director, National Security Agency, 1988–1992. Father of Navy rear admiral Michael W. Studeman. |
| 167 | Stanley R. Arthur | 6 Jul 1992 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1992–1995. | 3 | 1957 (NROTC) | 35 | (1935–    ) |
| 168 | Henry H. Mauz Jr. | 1 Aug 1992 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1992–1994. | 2 | 1959 (USNA) | 33 | (1936–    ) |
| 169 | Henry G. Chiles Jr. | 14 Feb 1994 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1960 (USNA) | 34 | (1938–    ) |
| 170 | William A. Owens | 1 Mar 1994 | Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1962 (USNA) | 32 | (1940–    ) |
| 171 | Leighton W. Smith Jr. | 1 May 1994 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1962 (USNA) | 32 | (1939–    ) Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Harold Page Smith. |
| 172 | Richard C. Macke | 1 Oct 1994 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1960 (USNA) | 34 | (1938–2022) Relieved, 1996. |
| 173 | Ronald J. Zlatoper | 5 Oct 1994 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1963 (NROTC) | 31 | (1941–2022) |
| 174 | William J. Flanagan Jr. | 1 Nov 1994 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1994–1996. | 2 | 1964 (MMA) | 30 | (1943–    ) |
| 175 | Joseph W. Prueher | 1 Jun 1995 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1995–1996. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1996–1999. | 4 | 1964 (USNA) | 31 | (1942–    ) U.S. Ambassador to China, 1999–2001. |
| 176 | Jay L. Johnson | 1 Apr 1996 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1996. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 1996–2000. | 4 | 1968 (USNA) | 28 | (1946–    ) |
| 177 | Thomas J. Lopez | 31 Jul 1996 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1996–1998. | 2 | 1964 (NROTC) | 32 | (1940–    ) |
| 178 | Frank L. Bowman | 1 Oct 1996 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Assistant Secretary for Naval Reactors, U.S. Department of Energy, 1996–2000. Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2000–2004. | 8 | 1966 (NROTC) | 30 | (1944–    ) |
| 179 | Harold W. Gehman Jr. | 1 Oct 1996 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1996–1997. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command (SACLANT/USCINCACOM), 1997–1999. Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic/Commander in Chief, U.S. Joint Forces Command (SACLANT/USCINCJFCOM), 1999–2000. | 4 | 1965 (NROTC) | 31 | (1942–    ) |
| 180 | Archie R. Clemins | 1 Jan 1997 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1996–1999. | 2 | 1966 (NROTC) | 31 | (1943–2020) |
| 181 | J. Paul Reason | 1 Feb 1997 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1996–1999. | 2 | 1965 (USNA) | 32 | (1941–    ) First African-American to achieve the rank of admiral. |
| 182 | Donald L. Pilling | 30 Oct 1997 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 1997–2000. | 3 | 1965 (USNA) | 32 | (1943–2008) |
| 183 | Richard W. Mies | 1 Aug 1998 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 1998–2001. | 3 | 1967 (USNA) | 31 | (1944–    ) |
| 184 | Charles S. Abbot | 1 Sep 1998 | Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command (DCINCEUR), 1998–2000. | 2 | 1966 (USNA) | 32 | (1945–    ) Deputy Director, Office of Homeland Security, 2001–2003. |
| 185 | James O. Ellis | 1 Jan 1999 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 1998–2001. Commander in Chief, U.S. Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT), 2001–2002. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2002–2004. | 5 | 1969 (USNA) | 30 | (1947–    ) |
| 186 | Dennis C. Blair | 1 May 1999 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 1999–2002. | 3 | 1968 (USNA) | 31 | (1946–    ) President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 2003–2006; Director of National Intelligence, 2009–2010. |
| 187 | Vernon E. Clark | 1 Nov 1999 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 1999–2000. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2000–2005. | 6 | 1968 (OCS) | 31 | (1944–    ) |
| 188 | Thomas B. Fargo | 1 Dec 1999 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 1999–2002. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC), 2002. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2002–2005. | 6 | 1970 (USNA) | 29 | (1948–    ) |
| 189 | Robert J. Natter | 1 Sep 2000 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), 2000–2001. Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Fleet Forces Command (CINCLANTFLT/COMFLTFORCOM), 2001–2002. Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMFLTFORCOM/COMLANTFLT), 2002–2003. | 3 | 1967 (USNA) | 33 | (1945–    ) |
| 190 | William J. Fallon | 1 Nov 2000 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2000–2003. Commander, Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMFLTFORCOM/COMLANTFLT), 2003–2005. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2005–2007. Commander, U.S. Central Command (CDRUSCENTCOM), 2007–2008. | 8 | 1967 (NROTC) | 33 | (1944–    ) Resigned, 2008. |
| 191 | Gregory G. Johnson | 24 Oct 2001 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 2001–2002. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (COMUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH), 2002–2004. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2004. | 3 | 1969 (NROTC) | 32 | (1946–    ) |
| 192 | Walter F. Doran | 4 May 2002 | Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT), 2002. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2002–2005. | 3 | 1967 (NROTC) | 35 | (1945–    ) |
| 193 | Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. | 2 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 (VJCS), 2005–2007. | 5 | 1970 (USNA) | 32 | (1948–    ) |
| 194 | Michael G. Mullen | 28 Aug 2003 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2003–2004. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2004–2005. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2005–2007. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), 2007–2011. | 8 | 1968 (USNA) | 35 | (1946–    ) |
| 195 | John B. Nathman | 1 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 (COMUSFF), 2006–2007. | 3 | 1970 (USNA) | 34 | (1948–    ) |
| 196 | Timothy J. Keating | 1 Jan 2005 | Commander, U.S. Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CDRUSNORTHCOM/CDRNORAD), 2004–2007. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2007–2009. | 5 | 1971 (USNA) | 34 | (1949–    ) |
| 197 | Kirkland H. Donald | 1 Jan 2005 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2004–2012. | 8 | 1975 (USNA) | 30 | (1953–    ) |
| 198 | Robert F. Willard | 18 Mar 2005 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2005–2007. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2007–2009. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2009–2012. | 7 | 1973 (USNA) | 32 | (1950–    ) |
| 199 | Henry G. Ulrich III | 22 Jul 2005 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2005–2007. | 2 | 1972 (USNA) | 33 | (1950–    ) |
| 200 | Gary Roughead | 1 Sep 2005 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2005–2007. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF), 2007. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2007–2011. | 6 | 1973 (USNA) | 32 | (1951–    ) |
| 201 | James G. Stavridis | 18 Oct 2006 | Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2006–2009. Commander, U.S. European Command/Supreme Allied Commander Europe (CDRUSEUCOM/SACEUR), 2009–2013. | 7 | 1976 (USNA) | 30 | (1955–    ) Dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 2013–2018. |
| 202 | Patrick M. Walsh | 5 Apr 2007 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2007–2009. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2009–2012. | 5 | 1977 (USNA) | 30 | (1955–    ) |
| 203 | Eric T. Olson | 6 Jul 2007 | Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), 2007–2011. | 4 | 1973 (USNA) | 34 | (1952–    ) First Navy SEAL to achieve the rank of admiral. |
| 204 | Jonathan W. Greenert | 29 Sep 2007 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF), 2007–2009. Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2009–2011. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2011–2015. | 8 | 1975 (USNA) | 32 | (1953–    ) |
| 205 | Mark P. Fitzgerald | 30 Nov 2007 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMJFC Naples), 2007–2009. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR/COMUSNAVAF/COMJFC Naples), 2009–2010. | 3 | 1973 (NROTC) | 34 | (1951–    ) |
| 206 | John C. Harvey Jr. | 24 Jul 2009 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF), 2009–2012. | 3 | 1973 (USNA) | 36 | (1951–    ) Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, 2014–2017. |
| 207 | James A. Winnefeld Jr. | 19 May 2010 | Commander, U.S. Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CDRUSNORTHCOM/CDRNORAD), 2010–2011. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2011–2015. | 5 | 1978 (NROTC) | 32 | (1956–    ) Chair, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, 2022–2024. |
| 208 | Samuel J. Locklear III | 6 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 | William H. McRaven | 8 Aug 2011 | Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), 2011–2014. | 3 | 1977 (NROTC) | 34 | (1955–    ) Chancellor, University of Texas System, 2015–2018. |
| 210 | Mark E. Ferguson III | 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 | Cecil D. Haney | 20 Jan 2012 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2012–2013. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2013–2016. | 4 | 1978 (USNA) | 34 | (1955–    ) |
| 212 | Bruce W. Clingan | 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. | 2 | 1977 (NROTC) | 34 | (1955–    ) |
| 213 | William E. Gortney | 14 Sep 2012 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFF), 2012–2014. Commander, U.S. Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CDRUSNORTHCOM/CDRNORAD), 2014–2016. | 4 | 1977 (AOCS) | 35 | (1955–    ) |
| 214 | John M. Richardson | 2 Nov 2012 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2012–2015. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2015–2019. | 7 | 1982 (USNA) | 31 | (1960–    ) |
| 215 | Harry B. Harris Jr. | 16 Oct 2013 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2013–2015. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), 2015–2018. | 5 | 1978 (USNA) | 35 | (1956–    ) U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, 2018–2021. First Asian-American to achieve the rank of admiral. |
| 216 | Michael S. Rogers | 3 Apr 2014 | Commander, U.S. Cyber Command/Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service (COMUSCYBERCOM/DIRNSA/CCSS), 2014–2018. | 4 | 1981 (NROTC) | 33 | (1959–    ) First Information Warfare Community officer to achieve the rank of admiral. |
| 217 | Michelle J. Howard | 1 Jul 2014 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2014–2016. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMUSNAVEUR-NAVAF & COMJFC Naples), 2016–2017. | 3 | 1982 (USNA) | 32 | (1960–    ) Chair, The Naming Commission, 2021–2022. First woman to achieve the rank of admiral. |
| 218 | Philip S. Davidson | 19 Dec 2014 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (COMUSFF/COMUSNAVNORTHCOM), 2014–2018. Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2018–2021. | 7 | 1982 (USNA) | 32 | (1960–    ) |
| 219 | Scott H. Swift | 27 May 2015 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2015–2018. | 3 | 1979 (AOCS) | 36 | (1957–    ) |
| 220 | James F. Caldwell Jr. | 14 Aug 2015 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2015–2024. | 9 | 1981 (USNA) | 34 | (1959–    ) Great-grandson of Navy four-star admiral Jehu V. Chase. |
| 221 | Kurt W. Tidd | 14 Jan 2016 | Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2016–2018. | 2 | 1978 (USNA) | 38 | (1956–    ) |
| 222 | William F. Moran | 31 May 2016 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2016–2019. | 3 | 1981 (USNA) | 35 | (1958–    ) |
| 223 | James G. Foggo III | 20 Oct 2017 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples), 2017–2020. | 3 | 1981 (USNA) | 36 | (1959–    ) |
| 224 | Christopher W. Grady | 4 May 2018 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (COMUSFF/COMUSNAVYNORTH), 2018–2019. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (COMUSFF/COMUSNAVYNORTH/NAVSTRAT/JFMCC), 2019–2021. Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS), 2021–present. | 7 | 1984 (NROTC) | 34 | (1962–    ) |
| 225 | John C. Aquilino | 17 May 2018 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2018–2021. Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2021–2024. | 6 | 1984 (USNA) | 34 | (1961–    ) |
| 226 | Craig S. Faller | 26 Nov 2018 | Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2018–2021. | 3 | 1983 (USNA) | 35 | (1961–    ) |
| 227 | Robert P. Burke | 10 Jun 2019 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2019–2020. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples), 2020–2022. | 3 | 1983 (NROTC) | 36 | (1962–    ) |
| 228 | Michael M. Gilday | 22 Aug 2019 | Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2019–2023. | 4 | 1985 (USNA) | 34 | (1962–    ) |
| 229 | Charles A. Richard | 18 Nov 2019 | Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2019–2022. | 3 | 1982 (NROTC) | 37 | (1959–    ) |
| 230 | William K. Lescher | 29 May 2020 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2020–2022. | 2 | 1980 (USNA) | 40 | (1958–    ) |
| 231 | Samuel J. Paparo Jr. | 5 May 2021 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2021–2024. Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (CDRUSINDOPACOM), 2024–present. | 4 | 1987 (NROTC) | 34 | (1964–    ) |
| 232 | Daryl L. Caudle | 7 Dec 2021 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (COMUSFF/COMUSNAVYNORTH/NAVSTRAT/JFMCC), 2021–present. | 4 | 1985 (OCS) | 36 | (1963–    ) |
| 233 | Stuart B. Munsch | 27 Jun 2022 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMCNE-CNA & COMJFC Naples), 2022–present. | 3 | 1985 (USNA) | 37 | (1962–    ) |
| 234 | Lisa M. Franchetti | 2 Sep 2022 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2022–2023. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 2023–2025. | 3 | 1985 (NROTC) | 37 | (1964–    ) Relieved, 2025. |
| 235 | James W. Kilby | 5 Jan 2024 | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), 2024–present. | 1 | 1986 (USNA) | 38 | (1963–    ) |
| 236 | William J. Houston | 10 Jan 2024 | Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program/Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, National Nuclear Security Administration (NAVSEA 08/NNSA NA-30), 2024–present. | 1 | 1990 (NROTC) | 34 | (1968–    ) |
| 237 | Stephen T. Koehler | 5 Apr 2024 | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), 2024–present. | 1 | 1986 (NROTC) | 38 | (1964–    ) |
| 238 | Alvin Holsey | 7 Nov 2024 | Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), 2024–present. | 1 | 1988 (NROTC) | 36 | (1965–    ) |

### Tombstone admirals

The Act of Congress of 4 March 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 23 February 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Tombstone promotions were subsequently restricted to citations issued before 1 January 1947, and finally eliminated altogether effective 1 November 1959.
Any admiral who actually served in a grade while on active duty receives precedence on the retired list over any tombstone admiral holding the same retired grade. Tombstone admirals rank among each other according to the dates of their highest active duty grade.
| | Name | Date of rank (VADM) | Date retired | Commission | Notes |
| 1 | William L. Calhoun | 16 Jun 1942 | Dec 1946 | 1906 (USNA) | (1885–1963) Great-grandson of U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun. |
| 2 | Frank J. Fletcher | 26 Jun 1942 | May 1947 | 1906 (USNA) | (1885–1973) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Nephew of Navy four-star admiral Frank F. Fletcher. |
| 3 | Aubrey W. Fitch | 28 Dec 1942 | Jul 1947 | 1906 (USNA) | (1883–1948) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1945–1947. |
| 4 | John Howard Hoover | 1 Jan 1943 | Jul 1948 | 1906 (USNA) | (1887–1970) |
| 5 | Alan G. Kirk | 10 Sep 1944 | Mar 1946 | 1909 (USNA) | (1888–1963) Director of Naval Intelligence, 1941; U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, 1946–1947; to Soviet Union, 1949–1952; to China, 1962–1963. |
| 6 | George D. Murray | 29 Nov 1944 | Aug 1951 | 1911 (USNA) | (1889–1956) |
| 7 | Jesse B. Oldendorf | 7 Dec 1944 | Sep 1948 | 1909 (USNA) | (1887–1974) |
| 8 | Arthur S. Carpender | 3 Apr 1945 | Nov 1946 | 1908 (USNA) | (1884–1959) Superintendent, Admiral Farragut Academy, 1948–19?? |
| 9 | Harry W. Hill | 22 Apr 1945 | 1952-05-00May 1952 | 1911 (USNA) | (1890–1971) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1950–1952; Governor, U.S. Naval Home, 1952–1954. |
| 10 | Frederick C. Sherman | 13 Jul 1945 | Mar 1947 | 1910 (USNA) | (1880–1957) |
| 11 | John L. Hall Jr. | 10 Dec 1945 | May 1953 | 1913 (USNA) | (1891–1978) |
| 12 | Oscar C. Badger II | 13 Dec 1945 | Jun 1952 | 1911 (USNA) | (1890–1958) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1914. Cousin of U.S. Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger. |
| 13 | John D. Price | 31 Aug 1946 | Jun 1954 | 1916 (USNA) | (1892–1957) |
| 14 | Francis S. Low | 12 Mar 1947 | Jul 1956 | 1915 (USNA) | (1894–1964) |
| 15 | David W. Bagley | 1 Apr 1947 | 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 | Harold B. Sallada | 11 May 1947 | Oct 1949 | 1917 (USNA) | (1895–1977) |
| 17 | Arthur D. Struble | 26 Apr 1948 | Jul 1956 | 1915 (USNA) | (1894–1983) |
| 18 | Russell S. Berkey | 1 Jul 1948 | Sep 1950 | 1916 (USNA) | (1893–1984) |
| 19 | John W. Reeves Jr. | 1 Apr 1949 | May 1950 | 1911 (USNA) | (1888–1967) General Manager, Los Angeles International Airport, 1950–1952. |
| 20 | C. Turner Joy | 1 Aug 1949 | Jul 1954 | 1916 (USNA) | (1895–1956) Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 1952–1954. |
| 21 | Thomas L. Sprague | 15 Aug 1949 | Apr 1952 | 1917 (USNA) | (1894–1972) |
| 22 | John J. Ballentine | 1 Nov 1949 | May 1954 | 1917 (USNA) | (1896–1970) |
| 23 | Matthias B. Gardner | 1 Oct 1950 | Aug 1956 | 1919 (USNA) | (1897–1975) |
| 24 | Albert G. Noble | 29 Dec 1950 | Oct 1951 | 1917 (USNA) | (1885–1980) |
| 25 | Harold M. Martin | 1 Feb 1951 | Feb 1956 | 1919 (USNA) | (1896–1972) |
| 26 | Arthur C. Davis | 12 Feb 1951 | Apr 1955 | 1915 (USNA) | (1893–1965) |
| 27 | Laurance T. DuBose | 30 Mar 1951 | Jun 1955 | 1913 (USNA) | (1893–1967) |
| 28 | James Fife Jr. | 9 Aug 1951 | Aug 1955 | 1918 (USNA) | (1897–1975) Director, Mystic Seaport, 1956–1975 |
| 29 | Frank G. Fahrion | 28 Dec 1951 | May 1956 | 1917 (USNA) | (1894–1970) |
| 30 | Joseph J. Clark | 7 Mar 1952 | Dec 1953 | 1918 (USNA) | (1893–1971) |
| 31 | Roscoe F. Good | 27 Mar 1953 | Mar 1958 | 1919 (USNA) | (1897–1974) |
| 32 | William K. Phillips | 28 Jul 1953 | Aug 1955 | 1918 (USNA) | (1894–1986) |
| 33 | John E. Gingrich | 30 Jul 1953 | Oct 1954 | 1919 (USNA) | (1897–1960) |
| 34 | Alfred M. Pride | 9 Oct 1953 | Oct 1959 | 1918 (OCS) | (1897–1988) |
| 35 | Edmund T. Wooldridge | 6 Apr 1954 | Aug 1958 | 1920 (USNA) | (1897–1968) |
| 36 | Austin K. Doyle | 7 May 1954 | Aug 1958 | 1920 (USNA) | (1898–1970) |
| 37 | Stuart S. Murray | 7 Dec 1955 | Aug 1956 | 1918 (USNA) | (1898–1980) Nephew of Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray. |
| 38 | Cato D. Glover Jr. | 8 Dec 1955 | Sep 1957 | 1919 (USNA) | (1897–1988) |
| 39 | John M. Will | 17 Apr 1956 | Jul 1959 | 1923 (USNA) | (1899–1981) |
| 40 | Byron N. Hanlon | 1 Nov 1957 | Oct 1958 | 1921 (USNA) | (1900–1977) |

## History
### 1866–1941

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 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 3 March 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.

### 1941–1991

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 (COMUSFF) in 2006.

### 1991–present

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 (VJCS). 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.

## Legislation

The following list of Congressional legislation includes major acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of admiral in the United States Navy.
| Legislation | Citation | Summary |
| Act of July 25, 1866 | 14 Stat. 222 | Authorized 1 grade of admiral (David G. Farragut, David D. Porter) [terminated at next vacancy in 1873 (17 Stat. 418)]. |
| Act of March 2, 1899 Act of March 3, 1899 | 30 Stat. 995 30 Stat. 1045 | Authorized 1 appointment of an Admiral of the Navy (George Dewey). |
| Act of March 3, 1915 | 38 Stat. 941 | Authorized rank of admiral for officers designated as commander in chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet, United States Pacific Fleet, or Asiatic Fleet. |
| Act of August 29, 1916 | 39 Stat. 558 | Increased rank of chief of naval operations to admiral, to rank next after the Admiral of the Navy. |
| Act of June 21, 1930 | 46 Stat. 793 | Authorized promotion on the retired list or posthumously to highest grade held during World War I, with no increase in retired pay (Henry T. Mayo, William B. Caperton, William S. Benson, William S. Sims, Henry B. Wilson Jr., Hugh Rodman, Albert Gleaves, Robert E. Coontz, Joseph Strauss, Hilary P. Jones). |
| Act of December 14, 1944 | 58 Stat. 802 | Authorized 4 grades of fleet admiral until six months after the end of World War II [made permanent in 1946 (60 Stat. 59)] (William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, Chester W. Nimitz, William F. Halsey Jr.). |
| Act of August 7, 1947 [Officer Personnel Act of 1947] | 61 Stat. 874 61 Stat. 875 61 Stat. 876 | Authorized president to designate, subject to Senate confirmation, Navy officers on the active list to have the grade of admiral while commanding fleets, subdivisions of fleets, or naval units afloat organized to perform a special or unusual mission, or while performing any duty of great importance and responsibility. Capped Navy officers on the active list in grades above rear admiral at 15 percent of the total number of flag officers authorized in the line of the Regular Navy, of whom not more than 8 to serve in the grade of admiral. Authorized all Navy officers to retire with the rank but not the pay of the next higher grade if specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat on or before December 31, 1946 [repealed in 1959 (73 Stat. 337)]. |
| Act of June 26, 1948 | 62 Stat. 1052 | Authorized permanent grade of admiral and full active-duty pay and allowances in retirement for Raymond A. Spruance. |
| Act of November 16, 1973 | 87 Stat. 621 | Authorized promotion of Hyman G. Rickover to admiral on the retired list. |
| Act of December 12, 1980 [Defense Officer Personnel Management Act] | 94 Stat. 2844 94 Stat. 2849 94 Stat. 2876 | Authorized president to designate positions of importance and responsibility to carry the grade of admiral, to be assigned from officers on active duty in any grade above captain, subject to Senate confirmation, who revert to their permanent grade at the end of their assignment unless it was terminated by assignment to another position designated to carry the same grade, up to 180 days of hospitalization, or up to 90 days prior to retirement [reduced to 60 days in 1991 (105 Stat. 1354)]. Capped, except during war or national emergency, Navy officers in grades above rear admiral at 15 percent of all flag officers on active duty, of whom not more than 25 percent to serve in the grade of admiral. Authorized three- and four-star officers to retire in the highest grade held on active duty, at the discretion of the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate, with no time-in-grade requirement [changed in 1996 to certification by secretary of defense and three-year time-in-grade requirement (110 Stat. 292)]. |
| Act of October 28, 2009 | 123 Stat. 2273 123 Stat. 2276 | Capped Navy officers in the grade of admiral at 6, exempting from caps up to 20 admirals assigned to joint duty [joint-duty cap repealed in 2016, effective December 31, 2022 (130 Stat. 2100), and lowered in 2021 to 19 (134 Stat. 3563)]. |