# List of United States Navy vice admirals since 2020

The rank of vice admiral (or three-star admiral) is the second-highest rank normally achievable in the United States Navy, and the first to have a specified number of appointments set by statute. It ranks above rear admiral (two-star admiral) and below admiral (four-star admiral).
There have been 54 vice admirals in the U.S. Navy since 1 January 2020, four of whom were promoted to four-star admiral. All 54 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Admirals entered the Navy via several paths: 26 were commissioned via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian university, 19 via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), four via Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), two via Officer Candidate School (OCS), one via direct commission (direct), and one via the California State University Maritime Academy (CSU Maritime).

## List of admirals

Entries in the following list of vice admirals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the admiral's name, date of rank, active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes.
List of U.S. Navy vice admirals since 2020 :
| # | Name | Date of rank | Position | Yrs | Commission | YC | Notes |
| 1 | Randy B. Crites | 15 May 2020 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (DCNO N8), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1985 (OCS) | 35 | (1962– ) |
| 2 | Yancy B. Lindsey | 29 May 2020 | Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1986 (AOCS) | 34 | (1962– ) |
| 3 | Eugene H. Black III | 1 Jun 2020 | Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet/Commander, Task Force Six/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe (COMSIXTHFLT/CTF-6/COMSTRIKFORNATO/DCOMCNE-CNA/JFMCC Europe), 2020–2022. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Operations, Plans and Strategy (DCNO N3/N5), 2022–2024. | 4 | 1986 (USNA) | 34 | (1964– ) |
| 4 | Jeffrey E. Trussler | 5 Jun 2020 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Information Warfare/Director of Naval Intelligence (DCNO N2/N6/DNI), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1985 (NROTC) | 35 | (1963– ) |
| 5 | William J. Galinis | 19 Jun 2020 | Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1983 (USNA) | 37 | (1961– ) |
| 6 | Michelle C. Skubic | 24 Jul 2020 | Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DIRDLA), 2020–2024. | 4 | 1988 (NROTC) | 32 | (1966– ) Supply Corps. |
| 7 | Roy I. Kitchener | 3 Aug 2020 | Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR/COMNAVSURFPAC), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1984 (NROTC) | 36 | (1962– ) |
| 8 | John B. Mustin | 7 Aug 2020 | Chief, U.S. Navy Reserve/Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNR/CNRF), 2020–2024. | 4 | 1990 (USNA) | 30 | (1967– ) Son of Navy vice admiral Henry C. Mustin; grandson of Navy vice admiral Lloyd M. Mustin; step-great grandson of Navy four-star admiral George D. Murray. |
| * | Samuel J. Paparo Jr. | 19 Aug 2020 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2020–2021. | 1 | 1987 (NROTC) | 33 | (1964– ) Promoted to admiral, 5 May 2021. |
| 9 | Kenneth R. Whitesell | 2 Oct 2020 | Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRFOR/COMNAVAIRPAC), 2020–2023. | 3 | 1985 (AOCS) | 35 | (1961– ) |
| 10 | Jeffrey W. Hughes | 1 Feb 2021 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Development (DCNO N7), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development, Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (DCOFS-CD), 2024–present. | 4 | 1988 (NROTC) | 33 | (1966– ) |
| 11 | Charles B. Cooper II | 5 May 2021 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2021–2024. Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (DCDRUSCENTCOM), 2024–present. | 4 | 1989 (USNA) | 32 | (1967– ) |
| 12 | Kelly A. Aeschbach | 7 May 2021 | Commander, Naval Information Forces (COMNAVIFOR), 2021–2024. | 3 | 1990 (NROTC) | 31 | (1968– ) |
| * | Stephen T. Koehler | 3 Jun 2021 | Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2021–2022. Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, J5/Senior Member, U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Military Staff Committee (Sr. Member MSC), 2022–2024. | 3 | 1986 (NROTC) | 35 | (1964– ) Promoted to admiral, 4 Apr 2024. |
| 13 | John V. Fuller | 11 Jun 2021 | Naval Inspector General (NAVIG), 2021–present. | 4 | 1987 (USNA) | 34 | (1965– ) |
| 14 | Karl O. Thomas | 8 Jul 2021 | Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Information Warfare/Director of Naval Intelligence (DCNO N2/N6/DNI), 2024–present. | 3 | 1986 (NROTC) | 35 | (1963– ) |
| 15 | Frank D. Whitworth III | 30 Jul 2021 | Director, Intelligence, Joint Staff, J2, 2019–2022. Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (DIRNGA), 2022–present. | 4 | 1989 (NROTC) | 32 | (1967– ) Brother-in-law of Navy vice admiral Darse E. Crandall Jr. |
| 16 | Francis D. Morley | 4 Aug 2021 | Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition) (PMD ASN(RDA)), 2021–2024. | 3 | 1988 (NROTC) | 33 | (1966– ) |
| 17 | Darse E. Crandall Jr. | 18 Aug 2021 | Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy/U.S. Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (JAG/REPOPA), 2021–2024. | 3 | 1984 (NROTC) | 37 | (1962– ) Judge Advocate General's Corps. Brother-in-law of Navy vice admiral Frank D. Whitworth III. |
| 18 | Daniel W. Dwyer | 20 Aug 2021 | Commander, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Command - Norfolk/Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (COMSECONDFLT/CDRJFC-NF/DIRCJOS COE), 2021–2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Development (DCNO N7), 2024. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (DCNO N3/N5/N7), 2024–present. | 4 | 1988 (CSU Maritime) | 33 | (1966– ) |
| 19 | Carl P. Chebi | 9 Sep 2021 | Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (COMNAVAIR), 2021–present. | 4 | 1987 (NROTC) | 34 | (1965– ) |
| * | William J. Houston | 10 Sep 2021 | Commander, Submarine Forces/Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Allied Submarine Command/Commander, Task Force 114/Commander, Task Force 88/Commander, Task Force 46 (COMSUBFOR/COMSUBLANT/COMASC/CTF-114/CTF-88/CTF-46), 2021–2023. | 2 | 1990 (NROTC) | 31 | (1968– ) Promoted to admiral, 10 Jan 2024. |
| 20 | Collin P. Green | 16 Dec 2021 | Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (DCDRUSSOCOM), 2021–2024. | 3 | 1986 (USNA) | 35 | (1962– ) Navy SEAL. |
| 21 | Sara A. Joyner | 3 Jun 2022 | Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, J8, 2022–present. | 3 | 1989 (USNA) | 33 | (1967– ) |
| 22 | Richard J. Cheeseman Jr. | 3 Jun 2022 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel, Manpower and Training/Chief of Naval Personnel (DCNO N1/CNP), 2022–present. | 3 | 1989 (NROTC) | 33 | (1966– ) |
| 23 | Michael E. Boyle | 16 Jun 2022 | Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2022–2024. Director, Navy Staff (DNS/N09B), 2024–present. | 3 | 1987 (NROTC) | 35 | (1965– ) |
| 24 | Craig A. Clapperton | 4 Aug 2022 | Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) (COMFCC/COMTENTHFLT/CDRJFHQ-C), 2022–2023. Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet/Commander, Navy Space Command/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) (COMFCC/COMTENTHFLT/COMNAVSPACECOM/CDRJFHQ-C), 2023–present. | 3 | 1989 (NROTC) | 33 | (1967– ) |
| 25 | Frank M. Bradley | 10 Aug 2022 | Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, U.S. Special Operations Command (CDRJSOC/CDRJSOC-F), 2022–present. | 3 | 1991 (USNA) | 31 | (c. 1970– ) Navy SEAL. |
| 26 | Thomas E. Ishee | 15 Sep 2022 | Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet/Commander, Task Force Six/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe (COMSIXTHFLT/CTF-6/COMSTRIKFORNATO/DCOMCNE-CNA/JFMCC Europe), 2022–2024. | 2 | 1988 (OCS) | 34 | (1965– ) |
| 27 | Richard A. Correll | 1 Dec 2022 | Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (DCDRUSSTRATCOM), 2022–present. | 3 | 1986 (NROTC) | 36 | (1964– ) |
| 28 | John F.G. Wade | 1 Dec 2022 | Commander, Joint Task Force - Red Hill (CDRJTF-RH), 2022–2024. Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (COMTHIRDFLT), 2024–present. | 3 | 1990 (USNA) | 32 | (1968– ) |
| * | Alvin Holsey | 1 Feb 2023 | Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (MILDEPUSSOUTHCOM), 2023–2024. | 1 | 1988 (NROTC) | 35 | (1965– ) Promoted to admiral, 7 Nov 2024. |
| 29 | James E. Pitts | 5 Dec 2023 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (DCNO N9), 2023–present. | 2 | 1986 (USNA) | 37 | (1964– ) |
| 30 | Jeffrey T. Jablon | 5 Dec 2023 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Installations and Logistics (DCNO N4), 2023–present. | 2 | 1987 (NROTC) | 36 | (1964– ) |
| 31 | Blake L. Converse | 5 Dec 2023 | Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (DCOMPACFLT), 2021–present. | 2 | 1987 (NROTC) | 36 | (1965– ) |
| 32 | Shoshana S. Chatfield | 13 Dec 2023 | U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 2023–present. | 2 | 1987 (NROTC) | 36 | (1965– ) President, Naval War College, 2019–2023. |
| 33 | Christopher S. Gray | 18 Dec 2023 | Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), 2023–present. | 2 | 1989 (AOCS) | 34 | (1964– ) |
| 34 | Brendan R. McLane | 21 Dec 2023 | Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFOR/COMNAVSURFPAC), 2023–present. | 2 | 1990 (USNA) | 33 | (1968– ) |
| 35 | John B. Skillman | 22 Dec 2023 | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (DCNO N8), 2023–present. | 2 | 1986 (USNA) | 37 | (1964– ) |
| 36 | Robert M. Gaucher | 28 Dec 2023 | Commander, Submarine Forces/Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Commander, Allied Submarine Command/Commander, Task Force 114/Commander, Task Force 88/Commander, Task Force 46 (COMSUBFOR/COMSUBLANT/COMASC/CTF-114/CTF-88/CTF-46), 2023–present. | 2 | 1991 (USNA) | 32 | (c. 1966– ) |
| 37 | James P. Downey | 3 Jan 2024 | Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEA), 2024–present. | 1 | 1987 (NROTC) | 37 | (1964– ) |
| 38 | Yvette M. Davids | 11 Jan 2024 | Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, 2024–present. | 1 | 1989 (USNA) | 35 | (1967– ) Wife of Navy rear admiral Keith B. Davids. |
| 39 | John E. Gumbleton | 12 Jan 2024 | Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command/Commander, Task Force 80 (DCOMUSFF/DCOMUSNAVNORTH/DCOMUSNAVSTRAT/CTF-80), 2024–present. | 1 | 1989 (NROTC) | 35 | (1967– ) |
| 40 | Douglas G. Perry | 12 Jan 2024 | Commander, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Joint Force Command - Norfolk/Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (COMSECONDFLT/CDRJFC-NF/DIRCJOS COE), 2024–present. | 1 | 1989 (USNA) | 35 | (1967– ) |
| 41 | Daniel L. Cheever | 31 Jan 2024 | Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRFOR/COMNAVAIRPAC), 2024–present. | 1 | 1988 (AOCS) | 36 | (1963– ) |
| 42 | George M. Wikoff | 1 Feb 2024 | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet/Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT/COMCMF), 2024–present. | 1 | 1990 (NROTC) | 34 | (1968– ) |
| 43 | Frederick W. Kacher | 15 Feb 2024 | Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT), 2024–present. | 1 | 1990 (USNA) | 34 | (1968– ) |
| 44 | Scott W. Pappano | 3 Jul 2024 | Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition) (PMD ASN(RDA)), 2024–present. | 1 | 1989 (USNA) | 35 | (c. 1967– ) |
| 45 | Michael J. Vernazza | 26 Jul 2024 | Commander, Naval Information Forces (COMNAVIFOR), 2024–present. | 1 | 1990 (USNA) | 34 | (c. 1968– ) |
| 46 | Dion D. English | 2 Aug 2024 | Director, Logistics, Joint Staff, J4, 2024–present. | 1 | 1993 (NROTC) | 31 | (c. 1971– ) |
| 47 | Nancy S. Lacore | 23 Aug 2024 | Chief, U.S. Navy Reserve/Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNR/CNRF), 2024–present. | 1 | 1990 (NROTC) | 34 | |
| 48 | Christopher C. French | 5 Sep 2024 | Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy/U.S. Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (JAG/REPOPA), 2024–2025. | 1 | 1992 (direct) | 32 | Judge Advocate General's Corps. |
| 49 | Jeffrey T. Anderson | 20 Sep 2024 | Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet/Commander, Task Force Six/Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe (COMSIXTHFLT/CTF-6/COMSTRIKFORNATO/DCOMCNE-CNA/JFMCC Europe), 2024–present. | 1 | 1991 (USNA) | 33 | (c. 1969– ) |
| 50 | Peter A. Garvin | 11 Oct 2024 | President, National Defense University (NDU-P), 2024–present. | 1 | 1989 (USNA) | 35 | (c. 1967– ) President, Naval War College, 2023–2024. |

## Background
### Modern use of the rank

Vice admirals in the United States Navy include commanders of numbered fleets as well as high-level type commands and geographic commands, including the commanders of the naval submarine forces, naval surface forces, naval information forces and the chief of navy reserve. Heads of Navy staff corps such as the judge advocate general are also vice admirals. The superintendent of the United States Naval Academy has been a three-star vice admiral without interruption since John R. Ryan's tenure began in 1998.
As with any other service branch, vice admirals can hold joint assignments, of which there are 30 to 50 at any given time. Among the most prestigious of them is the director of the Joint Staff (DJS), principal staff advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and historically considered a stepping stone to four-star rank. All deputy commanders of the unified combatant commands are of three-star rank, as are directors of Defense Agencies not headed by a civilian such as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIRDIA). Internationally-based three-star positions include the United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), the commander of Allied Joint Force Command - Norfolk (JFC-NF), and the security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. All nominees for three-star rank must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.

#### Statutory limits, elevations and reductions

The U.S. Code states that no more than 34 officers in the U.S. Navy may hold the rank of vice admiral on the active duty list, aside from those on joint duty assignments. Three-star positions can be elevated to four-star grade or reduced to two-star grade where deemed necessary, either to highlight their increasing importance to the defense apparatus (or lack thereof) or to achieve parity with equivalent commands in other services or regions. Few three-star positions are set by statute, leading to their increased volatility as they do not require congressional approval to be downgraded.
* Rear Admiral Frank D. Whitworth II was promoted to vice admiral on 30 July 2021, making him the first director of intelligence of the Joint Staff to hold three-star rank. The elevation would remain in place after Whitworth's assignment as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, with the role being taken over by Lieutenant General Dimitri Henry.
* Rear Admiral John F.G. Wade, commander of Joint Task Force Red Hill, was promoted to vice admiral on 1 December 2022. Under the commander of USINDOPACOM, Wade was charged with overseeing the defueling of the closing Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility from 2022 to 2024.
* Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Kruse was appointed the first advisor for military to the director of national intelligence in August 2021 as part of organizational changes to the ODNI. The role was created to serve as a "focal point" for the ODNI to communicate with the Department of Defense, including the under secretary of defense for intelligence and security, combat support agency directors and the combatant commands.

#### Senate confirmations

Military nominations are considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee. While it is rare for three-star or four-star nominations to face even token opposition in the Senate, nominations that do face opposition due to controversy surrounding the nominee in question are typically withdrawn. Nominations that are not withdrawn are allowed to expire without action at the end of the legislative session.
* For example, the nomination of Major General Ryan F. Gonsalves for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general of U.S. Army Europe was withdrawn in November 2017 after an investigation was launched into the general's inappropriate comment to a female Congressional staffer. As a result, Gonsalves was administratively reprimanded and retired in May 2018.
Additionally, events that take place after Senate confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office.
* For example, Major General John G. Rossi, who had been confirmed for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in April 2016 committed suicide two days before his scheduled promotion and assumption of command. As a result, the then incumbent commander of USASMDC, Lieutenant General David L. Mann, remained in command beyond customary term limits until another nominee, Major General James H. Dickinson was confirmed by the Senate.