# List of active duty United States three-star officers

There are currently 158 active-duty three-star officers in federal uniformed service, of which 157 three-star officers are part of the eight federal uniformed services of the United States. There are 54 in the Army, 18 in the Marine Corps, 36 in the Navy, 38 in the Air Force, five in the Space Force, four in the Coast Guard, none in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and one in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The final three-star officer comes from the Maritime Service, which is a federal uniformed organization that is not recognized as part of the federal uniformed services.

## List of designated three-star positions
### Department of Defense

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Secretary of Defense |||||
| Office of the Secretary of Defense | Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (SMA SecDef) | Vacant | |
| National intelligence agencies |||||
| Defense Intelligence Agency | Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) | Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Kruse | U.S. Air Force |
| National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) | Vice Admiral Frank D. Whitworth III | U.S. Navy |
| Defense Agencies |||||
| Defense Contract Management Agency | Director, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) | Lieutenant General Gregory L. Masiello | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Defense Health Agency | Director, Defense Health Agency (DHA) | Vacant | |
| Defense Information Systems Agency Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network | Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DoDIN) | Lieutenant General Paul T. Stanton | U.S. Army |
| Defense Logistics Agency | Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) | Lieutenant General Mark T. Simerly | U.S. Army |
| Missile Defense Agency | Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) | Lieutenant General Heath A. Collins | U.S. Air Force |

#### Joint Staff

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Joint Staff |||||
| Joint Staff | Director of the Joint Staff (DJS) | Lieutenant General Douglas A. Sims II | U.S. Army |
| Joint Staff directorates |||||
| Joint Staff | Director for Intelligence (J-2), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Dimitri Henry | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Joint Staff | Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich | U.S. Air Force |
| Joint Staff | Director for Logistics (J-4), Joint Staff | Vice Admiral Dion D. English | U.S. Navy |
| Joint Staff | Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff and Senior Member, U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee | Lieutenant General Joseph P. McGee | U.S. Army |
| Joint Staff | Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and Cyber and Chief Information Officer (J-6), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General David T. Isaacson | U.S. Army |
| Joint Staff | Director for Joint Force Development (J-7), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson | U.S. Air Force |
| Joint Staff | Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J-8), Joint Staff | Vice Admiral Sara A. Joyner | U.S. Navy |

#### Unified combatant commands

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| U.S. Africa Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) | Lieutenant General John W. Brennan Jr. | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Central Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) | Vice Admiral Charles B. Cooper II | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Cyber Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) | Lieutenant General William J. Hartman | U.S. Army |
| U.S. European Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) | Lieutenant General Robert C. Fulford | U.S. Marine Corps |
| U.S. Indo-Pacific Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) | Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Northern Command North American Aerospace Defense Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) | Lieutenant General Thomas M. Carden Jr. | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Southern Command | Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) | Lieutenant General Evan L. Pettus | U.S. Air Force |
| U.S. Space Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) | Lieutenant General Thomas L. James | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Special Operations Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) | Lieutenant General Sean M. Farrell | U.S. Air Force |
| U.S. Special Operations Command | Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) | Lieutenant General Francis L. Donovan | U.S. Marine Corps |
| U.S. Strategic Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) | Vice Admiral Richard A. Correll | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Transportation Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) | Lieutenant General Jered P. Helwig | U.S. Army |

#### Other joint positions

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Sub-unified commands |||||
| U.S. Forces Korea Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) | South Korea Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), Commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command (UNC), Commander, Air Component Command, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and Commander, Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) | Lieutenant General David R. Iverson | U.S. Air Force |
| U.S. Forces Japan Fifth Air Force | Japan Commander, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and Commander, Fifth Air Force (5 AF) | Lieutenant General Stephen F. Jost | U.S. Air Force |
| Alaskan NORAD Region Alaskan Command Eleventh Air Force | Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR), Commander, Alaskan Command (ALCOM) and Commander, Eleventh Air Force (11 AF) | Lieutenant General Case A. Cunningham | U.S. Air Force |
| Joint Special Operations Command | Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, U.S. Special Operations Command | Vice Admiral Frank M. Bradley | U.S. Navy |
| Special activities (domestic) |||||
| National Defense University | President, National Defense University (NDU) | Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin | U.S. Navy |
| F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office | Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office | Lieutenant General Michael J. Schmidt | U.S. Air Force |
| Office of the Director of National Intelligence | Director's Advisor for Military Affairs, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) | Lieutenant General Michele H. Bredenkamp | U.S. Army |
| Central Intelligence Agency | Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | Lieutenant General Michael L. Downs | U.S. Air Force |
| Special activities (international) |||||
| Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee | Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee (DCMC) | Lieutenant General Andrew M. Rohling | U.S. Army |
| NATO Military Committee | U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP) | Vice Admiral Shoshana S. Chatfield | U.S. Navy |
| Allied Special Operations Forces Command Special Operations Command Europe | Commander, Allied Special Operations Forces Command (SOFCOM) and Commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) | Lieutenant General Richard E. Angle | U.S. Army |
| Allied Command Transformation | Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development, Headquarters Allied Command Transformation (ACT) | Vice Admiral Jeffrey W. Hughes | U.S. Navy |
| | Germany Commander, Security Assistance Group – Ukraine (SAG-U) and Commander, NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR) | Lieutenant General Curtis A. Buzzard | U.S. Army |
| Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem | Israel U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (USSC) | Lieutenant General Michael R. Fenzel | U.S. Army |

### Department of the Army

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Secretary |||||
| Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office | Director, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) | Lieutenant General Robert A. Rasch Jr. | U.S. Army |
| Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) | Military Deputy for Budget to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) | Lieutenant General Paul A. Chamberlain | U.S. Army |
| Inspector General of the United States Army | Inspector General of the United States Army (IG) | Vacant | U.S. Army |

#### United States Army

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Army Staff |||||
| Director of the Army Staff | Director of the Army Staff (DAS) | Lieutenant General Laura A. Potter | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1) | Lieutenant General Brian S. Eifler | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2) | Lieutenant General Anthony R. Hale | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G-3/5/7) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G-3/5/7) | Lieutenant General Joseph A. Ryan | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4) | Lieutenant General Heidi J. Hoyle | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber Operations and Networks (G-6) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber Operations and Networks (G-6) | Lieutenant General Jeth B. Rey | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs (G-8) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs (G-8) | Lieutenant General Karl H. Gingrich | U.S. Army |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations (G-9) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations (G-9) | Lieutenant General David Wilson | U.S. Army |
| Judge Advocate General of the United States Army | Judge Advocate General of the United States Army (TJAG) | Vacant | U.S. Army |
| Army commands (and subordinated units) |||||
| U.S. Army Forces Command | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) | Lieutenant General Stephen G. Smith | U.S. Army |
| Chief of the United States Army Reserve U.S. Army Reserve Command | Chief of the United States Army Reserve (CAR) and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) | Lieutenant General Robert D. Harter | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Futures Command | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) | Lieutenant General Edmond M. Brown | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Futures Command Futures and Concepts Center | Deputy Commanding General for Futures and Concepts, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) and Director, Futures and Concepts Center (FCC) | Lieutenant General David M. Hodne | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Materiel Command | Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command and Senior Commander, Redstone Arsenal | Lieutenant General Christopher O. Mohan Acting | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Installation Management Command | Commanding General, U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) | Lieutenant General Omar J. Jones IV | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commanding General, U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training (USACIMT) | Lieutenant General David J. Francis | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command U.S. Army Combined Arms Center U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Army University | Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (USACAC), Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Executive Vice Chancellor, Army University (ArmyU) and Commanding General, Fort Leavenworth | Lieutenant General Milford H. Beagle Jr. | U.S. Army |
| Army service component commands |||||
| U.S. Army Central | Commanding General, U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and Commanding General, Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) | Lieutenant General Patrick D. Frank | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Cyber Command Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Army) | Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Army) (JFHQ-C) | Lieutenant General Maria B. Barrett | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Europe and Africa | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) | Lieutenant General Sean C. Bernabe | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Pacific | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) | Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army North | Commanding General, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) and Senior Commander, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis | Lieutenant General Allan M. Pepin | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Special Operations Command | Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) | Lieutenant General Jonathan P. Braga | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense | Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense (JFCC IMD) | Lieutenant General Sean A. Gainey | U.S. Army |
| Direct reporting units |||||
| U.S. Army Acquisition Corps | Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Corps (AAC) | Lieutenant General Robert M. Collins | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Chief of Engineers U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | United States Army Chief of Engineers (COE) and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) | Lieutenant General William H. Graham Jr. | U.S. Army |
| Surgeon General of the United States Army U.S. Army Medical Command Army Medical Department | Surgeon General of the United States Army (TSG), Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) and Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) | Lieutenant General Mary K. Izaguirre | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Military Academy | Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA) | Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland | U.S. Army |
| U.S. Army Recruiting Command | Commanding General, U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) | Lieutenant General Johnny K. Davis | U.S. Army |
| Operating forces |||||
| First Army | Commanding General, First Army | Lieutenant General Mark H. Landes | U.S. Army |
| Eighth Army ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command | Commanding General, Eighth Army and Chief of Staff, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) | Lieutenant General Christopher C. LaNeve | U.S. Army |
| I Corps | Commanding General, I Corps and Commanding General, Joint Base Lewis–McChord | Lieutenant General Matthew W. McFarlane | U.S. Army |
| III Armored Corps | Commanding General, III Armored Corps and Commanding General, Fort Cavazos | Lieutenant General Kevin D. Admiral | U.S. Army |
| V Corps | Commanding General, V Corps | Lieutenant General Charles D. Costanza | U.S. Army |
| XVIII Airborne Corps | Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Commanding General, Fort Bragg | Lieutenant General Gregory K. Anderson | U.S. Army |
| Army National Guard |||||
| Army National Guard | Director, Army National Guard (ARNG) | Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Stubbs | U.S. Army |

### Department of the Navy

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Secretary |||||
| Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | Vice Admiral Scott W. Pappano | U.S. Navy |
| Naval Inspector General | Naval Inspector General (NAVIG) and Special Assistant for Inspection Support (N09G) | Vice Admiral John V. Fuller | U.S. Navy |
| Judge Advocate General of the Navy | Judge Advocate General of the Navy (JAG), Special Assistant for Legal Services (N09J) and Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA) | Vacant | U.S. Navy |

#### United States Marine Corps

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Headquarters Marine Corps |||||
| Director of the Marine Corps Staff | Director of the Marine Corps Staff (DMCS) | Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock Jr. | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps | Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA) | Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps | Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations (DC PP&O) | Lieutenant General James W. Bierman Jr. Retiring | U.S. Marine Corps |
| United States Marine Corps Aviation | Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) | Lieutenant General Bradford J. Gering | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Installations and Logistics, Headquarters Marine Corps | Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (DC I&L) | Lieutenant General Stephen D. Sklenka | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Corps Combat Development Command | Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration (DC CD&I) and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) | Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Headquarters Marine Corps | Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (DC P&R) | Lieutenant General James H. Adams III | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Deputy Commandant for Information Marine Corps Intelligence | Deputy Commandant for Information (DCI), Director, Marine Corps Intelligence (MCI) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command (MARFORSTRAT) | Lieutenant General Melvin G. Carter | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Supporting establishment |||||
| U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command | Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM) | Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Operating forces |||||
| U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command U.S. Marine Corps Forces Northern Command Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic | Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM), Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH) and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) | Lieutenant General Roberta L. Shea | U.S. Marine Corps |
| II Marine Expeditionary Force | Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) | Lieutenant General Calvert L. Worth Jr. | U.S. Marine Corps |
| U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific | Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC) | Lieutenant General James F. Glynn | U.S. Marine Corps |
| U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan III Marine Expeditionary Force | Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (MARFORJ) and Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) | Lieutenant General Roger B. Turner Jr. | U.S. Marine Corps |
| I Marine Expeditionary Force | Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) | Lieutenant General Michael S. Cederholm | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Marine Forces Reserve |||||
| Marine Forces Reserve U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South | Commander, Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) | Lieutenant General Leonard F. Anderson IV | U.S. Marine Corps |

#### United States Navy

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Chief of Naval Operations |||||
| Office of the Chief of Naval Operations | Director, Navy Staff (DNS/N09B) | Vice Admiral Michael E. Boyle | U.S. Navy |
| Bureau of Naval Personnel | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Manpower, and Training (N1) and Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) | Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman Jr. | U.S. Navy |
| Director of Naval Intelligence | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (N2/N6) and Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) | Vice Admiral Karl O. Thomas | U.S. Navy |
| Office of the Chief of Naval Operations | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (N3/N5/N7) | Vice Admiral Daniel W. Dwyer | U.S. Navy |
| Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics (N4) | Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Jablon | U.S. Navy |
| Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources (N8) | Vice Admiral John B. Skillman | U.S. Navy |
| Office of the Chief of Naval Operations | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N9) | Vice Admiral James E. Pitts | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Navy Reserve Commander, Navy Reserve Force | Chief of Navy Reserve (N095) and Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) | Vice Admiral Nancy S. Lacore | U.S. Navy |
| Type commands |||||
| Commander, Naval Air Forces Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet | Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC) | Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cheever | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Naval Information Forces | Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) | Vice Admiral Michael J. Vernazza | U.S. Navy |
| Commander, Naval Submarine Forces Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Allied Submarine Command | Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR), Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC), Commander, Task Force 114 (CTF-114), Commander, Task Force 88 (CTF-88) and Commander, Task Force 46 (CTF-46) | Vice Admiral Robert M. Gaucher | U.S. Navy |
| Commander, Naval Surface Forces Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet | Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR) and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC) | Vice Admiral Brendan R. McLane | U.S. Navy |
| Operating forces (and subordinated units) |||||
| U.S. Fleet Forces Command U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command | Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF), Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH), Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and Commander, Task Force 80 (CTF-80) | Vice Admiral John E. Gumbleton | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Second Fleet Joint Force Command – Norfolk Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence | Commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), Commander, Joint Force Command – Norfolk (JFC-NF) and Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (CJOS COE) | Vice Admiral Douglas G. Perry | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Sixth Fleet U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa | Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (C6F), Commander, Task Force Six, Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (COMSTRIKFORNATO), Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe | Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Pacific Fleet | Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) | Vice Admiral Blake L. Converse | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Third Fleet | Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F) | Vice Admiral John F.G. Wade | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Seventh Fleet | Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (C7F) | Vice Admiral Frederick W. Kacher | U.S. Navy |
| U.S. Naval Forces Central Command U.S. Fifth Fleet Combined Maritime Forces | Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (C5F) and Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) | Vice Admiral George M. Wikoff | U.S. Navy |
| Fleet Cyber Command U.S. Tenth Fleet U.S. Navy Space Command Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) | Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC), Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet (C10F), Commander, U.S. Navy Space Command (NAVSPACECOM) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Navy) (JFHQ-C) | Vice Admiral Craig A. Clapperton | U.S. Navy |
| Shore establishment |||||
| Naval Sea Systems Command | Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) | Vice Admiral James P. Downey | U.S. Navy |
| Naval Air Systems Command | Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) | Vice Admiral Carl P. Chebi | U.S. Navy |
| Navy Installations Command | Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) | Vice Admiral Christopher S. Gray | U.S. Navy |
| Strategic Systems Programs | Director, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) | Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr. | U.S. Navy |
| United States Naval Academy | Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) | Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids | U.S. Navy |

### Department of the Air Force

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Secretary |||||
| Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) | Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) (SAF/AQ) | Lieutenant General Dale R. White | U.S. Air Force |
| Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force | Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force (DAF/IG) | Lieutenant General Stephen L. Davis | U.S. Air Force |

#### United States Air Force

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Air Staff |||||
| Air Staff | Director of Staff of the United States Air Force (AF/DS) | Lieutenant General Scott L. Pleus | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Staff | Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services (A1) | Lieutenant General Caroline M. Miller | U.S. Air Force |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations (A2/6) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations (A2/6) | Lieutenant General Leah G. Lauderback | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Staff | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (A3) | Lieutenant General Adrian L. Spain | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Staff | Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (A4) | Lieutenant General Tom D. Miller | U.S. Air Force |
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures (A5/7) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures (A5/7) | Lieutenant General David A. Harris Jr. | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Staff | Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (A8) | Lieutenant General David H. Tabor | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Staff | Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration (A10) | Lieutenant General Andrew J. Gebara | U.S. Air Force |
| Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force and Space Force | Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force and Space Force | Vacant | U.S. Air Force |
| U.S. Air Force Medical Service | Surgeon General of the United States Air Force and Space Force | Lieutenant General (Dr.) John J. DeGoes | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force major commands (and subordinated units) |||||
| Air Combat Command | Deputy Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC) | Lieutenant General Michael G. Koscheski | U.S. Air Force |
| First Air Force Continental U.S. NORAD Region – Air Forces Northern Continental U.S. NORAD Region | Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space) (1 AF-AFNORTH & AFSPACE), Commander, Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR), Combined Force Air Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command and Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Northern Command | Lieutenant General M. Luke Ahmann | U.S. Air Force |
| Ninth Air Force U.S. Air Forces Central Command | Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) (9 AF-AFCENT) and Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command | Lieutenant General Derek C. France | U.S. Air Force |
| Sixteenth Air Force Air Forces Cyber Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Air Force) | Commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF-AFCYBER) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (Air Force) (JFHQ-C) | Lieutenant General Thomas K. Hensley | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Education and Training Command | Commander, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) | Lieutenant General Brian S. Robinson | U.S. Air Force |
| Air University | Commander and President, Air University | Lieutenant General Andrea D. Tullos | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Global Strike Command | Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic – Air, U.S. Strategic Command | Lieutenant General Michael J. Lutton | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Materiel Command | Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) | Lieutenant General Linda S. Hurry | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Life Cycle Management Center | Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Program Executive Officer for the Rapid Sustainment Office (PEO RSO) | Lieutenant General Donna D. Shipton | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Sustainment Center | Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) | Lieutenant General Stacey T. Hawkins | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Reserve Command | Chief of Air Force Reserve (AF/RE) and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) | Lieutenant General John P. Healy | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Force Special Operations Command | Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) | Lieutenant General Michael E. Conley | U.S. Air Force |
| Air Mobility Command | Deputy Commander, Air Mobility Command (AMC) | Lieutenant General Rebecca J. Sonkiss | U.S. Air Force |
| Pacific Air Forces | Deputy Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and Deputy Theater Air Component Commander to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command | Lieutenant General Laura L. Lenderman | U.S. Air Force |
| U.S. Air Forces in Europe U.S. Air Forces in Africa | Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) | Lieutenant General Jason T. Hinds | U.S. Air Force |
| Direct reporting units |||||
| U.S. Air Force Academy | Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) | Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind | U.S. Air Force |
| Air National Guard |||||
| Air National Guard | Director, Air National Guard (ANG) | Vacant | U.S. Air Force |

#### United States Space Force

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Space Staff |||||
| Space Staff | Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear (S3/4/6/7/10) | Lieutenant General DeAnna M. Burt | U.S. Space Force |
| Space Staff | Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis (S5/8) | Lieutenant General Shawn N. Bratton | U.S. Space Force |
| Field commands |||||
| Space Operations Command | Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC) | Lieutenant General David N. Miller Jr. | U.S. Space Force |
| Space Systems Command | Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC) | Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant | U.S. Space Force |
| United States Space Forces – Space | Commander, U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command | Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess | U.S. Space Force |

### Department of Homeland Security
#### United States Coast Guard

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Coast Guard Headquarters |||||
| Deputy Commandant for Operations | Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO) | Vice Admiral Peter W. Gautier | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Deputy Commandant for Mission Support | Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) | Vice Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr. | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Area commands |||||
| Coast Guard Atlantic Area | Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area (LANTAREA) and Director, Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Force – East (JTF-E) | Vice Admiral Nathan A. Moore | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Coast Guard Pacific Area | Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area (PACAREA) and Commander, Defense Force West | Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson | U.S. Coast Guard |

### Department of Health and Human Services
#### United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Surgeon General |||||
| Surgeon General of the United States | Surgeon General of the United States (SG) | | Vacant | U.S. Public Health Service |

### Department of Commerce
#### National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps

| Position insignia | Position | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere |||||
| Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere | Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (USC(OA)) and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | Vice Admiral Nancy A. Hann Acting | NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps |
| Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DUSO) | Vice Admiral Nancy A. Hann Acting | NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps |

### Department of Transportation
#### United States Maritime Service

| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
| Office of the Superintendent |||||
| U.S. Merchant Marine Academy | Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) | | Vice Admiral Joanna M. Nunan | U.S. Maritime Service |

## List of pending appointments

Appointments should be listed in order of service branch, and thereafter by the assigned position, identical to the above list. Promotions with no announced position should be listed below those with such positions by qualification of initial or lateral promotion and thereafter by alphabetical order of surname.
| Current position | Designated position insignia | Designated position | Name | Service branch | Status and date |
| Joint assignments |||||||
| Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Commanding General, Fort Campbell | Joint Staff | Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff and Senior Member, U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee | Major General Brett G. Sylvia | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 19 December 2024 |
| Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | National Nuclear Systems Administration | Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) | Vice Admiral Scott W. Pappano | U.S. Navy | Nomination sent to the Senate 3 February 2025 |
| United States Army |||||||
| Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Operations (G-3/4), U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) | U.S. Army Materiel Command | Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) | Major General Gavin A. Lawrence | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 24 September 2024 |
| United States Air Force |||||||
| Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (PEO C3BM) | | Commander, Air Force Information Dominance Systems Center | Major General Luke C. G. Cropsey | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 19 December 2024 |
| Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (A8P) | | Commander, Air Force Nuclear Systems Center | Major General Mark B. Pye | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 19 December 2024 |
| United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps |||||||
| None, civilian | Surgeon General of the United States | Surgeon General of the United States (SG) | Officer Candidate Janette Nesheiwat | U.S. Public Health Service | Nomination sent to the Senate 20 January 2025 |

## Statutory limits

As with four-star officers, the U.S. Code explicitly limits the number of three-star officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active-duty general or flag officers is capped at 219 for the Army, 150 for the Navy, 171 for the Air Force, 64 for the Marine Corps, and 21 for the Space Force. Statute also sets the total number of three-star officers allowed in these services, which equates to about 23% of each service's total active-duty general or flag officer pool. The number is set at 46 three-star Army generals, 17 three-star Marine Corps generals, 34 three-star Navy admirals, 44 three-star Air Force generals, seven three-star Space Force generals, and five three-star Coast Guard admirals.
While a number of these positions are set by statute, most do not have the accompanying statutory three-star rank. By convention, however:
* For the Army, lieutenant generals include corps and field army commanders, deputy and assistant chiefs of staff of the Army staff, deputies of Army four-star commands, commanders of high-level geographic or component commands, the chief of Army reserve, as well as high-level specialty positions including the inspector general, surgeon general, and judge advocate general.
* For the Navy, vice admirals include numbered fleet commanders, deputy chiefs of naval operations, deputies of Navy four-star commands, commanders of high-level geographic and component commands, and specialty positions such as the type commanders of naval air forces, naval submarine forces and naval surface forces, as well as the naval inspector general and judge advocate general.
* For the Air Force, lieutenant generals include commanders of large numbered air forces or major commands, deputy and assistant chiefs of staff of the Air staff, deputies of four-star major commands, the chief of Air Force Reserve, as well as the specialty positions of the inspector general, surgeon general and judge advocate general.
* For the Marine Corps, lieutenant generals include commanders of high-level geographic and functional Marine commands including the marine expeditionary forces, deputy commandants attached to Headquarters Marine Corps and commander of the Marine Forces Reserve.
* For the Space Force, lieutenant generals include the deputy chiefs of staff of the Space Staff and commanders of high-level field commands.
* For the Coast Guard, vice admirals include the deputy commandants for operations and mission support, as well as the operational area commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific region. By statute, there may not be more than five three-star positions in the Coast Guard and, if there are five, one must be the chief of staff of the Coast Guard.
* For the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the surgeon general of the United States is a three-star vice admiral by statute, equivalent in rank to the surgeon general of the Army.
* Although the rank of vice admiral exists in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), its use is rare. Only three officers of the NOAA Corps or its ancestor organizations have reached the rank of vice admiral.
The president may also designate positions of importance and responsibility to other agencies in the executive branch aside from the Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to be held by an officer with the rank of vice admiral, with corresponding pay and allowance.

### Exceptions

Exceptions exist that allow for the appointment of three-star officers beyond statutory limits. The secretary of defense can designate up to 232 officers, who do not count against any service's general or flag officer limit, to serve in several joint positions. For three-star officers, these include senior positions on the Joint Staff such as the director of the Joint Staff and deputy commanders of unified combatant commands. Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limits, including the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, associate director for military affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the advisor for military affairs to the director of National Intelligence. The president can appoint additional three-star officers in any one service, in excess of that service's three-star limit, as long as they are offset by reducing an equivalent number of three-stars from other services. Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the president's discretion during time of war or national emergency.

## Appointment

Like with four-stars, three-star grade of ranks are temporary in nature; officers may only achieve three stars if they are appointed to positions that require or allow the officer to hold the rank. Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is normally set by statute. The president nominates three-star officers from any eligible officers holding one-star rank and above who also meet the other requirements for the position, based on the advice of their respective executive department secretary, service secretary, and if applicable the Joint Chiefs. The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.
While it is rare for 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.
* For example, the nomination of Major General Ryan F. Gonsalves to the rank of lieutenant general, and assignment as commanding general of U.S. Army Europe in 2017 was withdrawn, after an investigation was launched into the general's inappropriate comment to a female congressional staffer.
* Rear Admiral Elizabeth L. Train was once the leading candidate to be director of naval intelligence in 2015, but her nomination was withdrawn the following year due to controversy related to the Fat Leonard corruption scandal.
* The president withdrew the nomination of Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms to become vice commander of Air Force Space Command in 2013 after eight months of inaction in the Senate, owing to concerns about her overturning the ruling in a sexual assault case under her command.
* Lieutenant General Mary A. Legere was widely considered a leading candidate to succeed Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, but her name was removed from consideration, following congressional backlash over her involvement in several controversial Army intelligence projects.
* Major General Raphael J. Hallada was withdrawn from consideration to become commanding general of Fifth Army in 1991, in connection to his decision not to prosecute two soldiers responsible for an artillery accident at his command of Fort Sill.
* Major General Joseph J. Taluto withdrew himself from consideration to become director of the Army National Guard in 2010, due to public controversy and subsequent Senate inaction over his handling of the deaths of Phillip Esposito and Louis Allen.
* And Rear Admiral Elizabeth A. Hight's nomination to be director of the Defense Information Systems Agency in 2008 was withdrawn, due to concerns about a possible conflict of interest with her husband, a retired Air Force general who was employed by a prominent defense contractor.
Nominations that are not withdrawn are allowed to expire without action at the end of the legislative session, with said nominations being returned to the President.
* For example, the Senate declined to schedule a vote for Major General Charles M. Gurganus to the rank of lieutenant general in 2013, and assigned as director of the Marine Corps staff, due to concerns of negligence leading to the September 2012 Camp Bastion raid.
* The nomination of Rear Admiral Thomas P. Ostebo to be the Coast Guard's deputy commandant for mission support in 2014 was returned to the president, as it was procedurally delayed by a senator who opposed the closure of two Coast Guard facilities in response to sequestration cuts.
Additionally, events that occur after Senate confirmation may delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office, necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate.
* For example, Major General John G. Rossi, who had been confirmed to the rank of 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 he was to assume command. Lieutenant General David L. Mann, the incumbent commander who was scheduled to retire, remained in command beyond customary term limits until another nominee, Major General James H. Dickinson was confirmed by the Senate.
* Vice Admiral Scott A. Stearney assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces in May 2018. His death in December 2018 resulted in the speedy confirmation of Rear Admiral James J. Malloy in the same month for elevation to the rank of vice admiral as his replacement.

## Command elevation and reduction

Any billet in the armed forces may be designated as a position of importance requiring the holder of the position to be of three-star or four-star rank. One-star and two-star billets may be elevated to three-star or four-star level as appropriate, either by act of Congress, or within statutory limits by the services at their discretion. Congress may propose such elevations or reductions to the president and Department of Defense.
An officer leading a command or office elevated to three-star rank can be promoted while in their present position, reassigned to another office of equal rank, or retire if another nominee is selected as their replacement.
* For example, Major General Scott C. Black became judge advocate general of the Army in October 2005. With the elevation of the office to three-star in 2008, Black was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general, and assumed the rank in December 2008.
* Vice Admiral Henry H. Mauz Jr., commander of U.S. Seventh Fleet, was dual-hatted as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in August 1990. The incumbent commander, Captain Robert Sutton, was not appointed to the rank of vice admiral and was thus reassigned as commander of the U.S. Naval Logistics Support Force under Mauz's command.
A lower-level billet may be elevated to three-stars, in accordance with being designated as a position of importance, to highlight importance to the defense apparatus or achieve parity with equivalent commands in the same area of responsibility or service branch.
* The National Defense Authorization Act of 2001 elevated all service reserve and National Guard components to three-star level. Consequently, all affected components (the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, and Marine Forces Reserve) had their existing commanders promoted to three-star rank, or promoted the first commander assigned after passage of the Act to three-star rank.
* The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 elevated the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau to the rank of lieutenant general, achieving parity with the three-star directors of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Major General Joseph L. Lengyel was subsequently confirmed for promotion to lieutenant general, and assumed office on 18 August 2012.
* Headquarters Marine Corps Bulletin 5400 directed the elevation of U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command to three-stars and making it a direct reporting unit responsible to the commandant of the Marine Corps. Its commander, Major General William F. Mullen III, subsequently relinquished command to Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta on 3 August 2020.
A four-star billet may also be reduced to three-stars, usually to compensate for another billet being elevated to four-star level and thus remain within statutory limits.
* For example, Air Education and Training Command, a four-star major command since 1975, was downgraded to three-stars to compensate for the elevation of Air Force Global Strike Command to four-stars, as congressional approval was required to bypass the authorized limit of nine four-star commands. Lieutenant General Darryl Roberson relieved General Robin Rand as AETC commander on 21 July 2015.

## Tour length

The standard tour length for a three-star officer is three years, specifically a two-year term with a one-year extension. Unlike with four-star ranks, many three-star positions have stipulated term lengths in the U.S. Code:
* Deputy commanders of unified combatant commands, as a joint duty assignment, serve for one to two years.
* Inspectors general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force serve for a nominal four-year term.
* Judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force serve for a nominal four-year term.
* Three-star chiefs of service reserve components serve for a nominal four-year term, renewable once for a total of eight years. Typically, a reserve component chief serves for two to three years.
* Three-star chiefs of Army branches, (except the judge advocate general) serve for a nominal four-year term.
* Superintendents of the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy serve for a nominal three-year term, though it is common for them to serve for four to five years.
* The surgeon general of the United States serves for a nominal four-year term.
All appointees serve at the pleasure of the president. Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved, within statutory limits, by their respective service secretaries, the secretary of defense, the president, and/or Congress but these are rare, as they block other officers from being promoted. Some statutory limits of tour length under the U.S. Code can be waived in times of national emergency or war. Three-star grades may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare.
* Rear Admiral John D. Bulkeley was promoted to vice admiral on the retired list in the Senate by unanimous voice vote in 1988, in recognition of his years of service to the country, including the rescue of General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor that earned him the Medal of Honor.

## Retirement

Besides voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Regular three-star officers may serve for a maximum of 38 years of commissioned service unless reappointed to rank to serve longer or appointed to a higher rank. Three-star officers on reserve active duty must retire after five years in rank or 38 years of commissioned service, whichever is later, unless reappointed to rank to serve longer. Three-star reserve officers of the Army and Air Force can have their retirements deferred by their service secretary until the officer's 66th birthday, which the secretary of defense may do for all active-duty officers, and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday.
Any three-star officer assigned as superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, or U.S. Air Force Academy must retire upon completion of their assignment, unless a waiver is granted by the secretary of defense. The secretary of defense must also notify the House and Senate Armed Services committees and include a written notification of intent from the president to nominate the officer for reassignment. If a waiver is granted, the subsequent nomination and appointment of such officer is subject to Senate advice and consent, like other general and flag officer nominations.
* Such a waiver was granted for Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams to be nominated for promotion to general to serve as the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Williams, who had been superintendent of the United States Military Academy since 2018, was subsequently confirmed for appointment to the four-star position, and assumed command on 28 June 2022.
Senior officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors. The higher number of available three-star slots overall (over 100) means that reassignment within rank is more likely for three-star officers before they either retire or are appointed to four-star rank. An officer who vacates a position bearing that rank has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal or greater importance, including positions of four-star rank, before involuntary retirement.
* For example, Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum was appointed as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command in 2009. The incumbent deputy commander, Lieutenant General William G. Webster Jr., was appointed as commanding general of U.S. Army Central, whose incumbent commanding general, Lieutenant General James J. Lovelace Jr., received no further appointment and retired at the age of 60, with 39 years of service and six years in rank.
* Rear Admiral Ronald A. Route was promoted to vice admiral and appointed as naval inspector general in 2004. The incumbent inspector general, Vice Admiral Albert T. Church, was appointed as director of the Navy staff, whose incumbent director, Vice Admiral Patricia A. Tracey, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 52, with 34 years of service and six years in rank.
* Major General William H. Etter was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as commander of First Air Force in 2013. The incumbent commander, Lieutenant General Stanley E. Clarke III, was appointed as director of the Air National Guard, whose incumbent director, Lieutenant General Harry M. Wyatt III, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 63, with 42 years of service and four years in rank.
* Rear Admiral Steven D. Poulin was promoted to vice admiral and appointed as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area in 2020. The incumbent commander, Vice Admiral Scott A. Buschman, was appointed as deputy commandant for operations; the incumbent deputy commandant, Vice Admiral Daniel B. Abel, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 59, with 37 years of service and two years in rank.
A three-star officer may also be reduced to their permanent rank, and equivalent pay grade, in circumstances where reappointment to three-star rank is delayed. Historically, officers leaving three-star or four-star positions were allowed to revert to their permanent two-star ranks to mark time in lesser jobs until statutory retirement, but now such officers are expected to retire immediately to avoid obstructing the promotion flow.
* For example, Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy reverted to his permanent grade of major general while awaiting confirmation as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau in 2019, as he had not been assigned to another three-star position within 60 days of his relief as director of the Army National Guard. After his nomination was returned to the president without action, he was certified to retire as a lieutenant general in 2020.
* Vice Admiral John Poindexter reverted to his permanent grade of rear admiral in 1986, as he was not appointed by the Senate to another three-star post within 90 days after resigning as national security advisor to the president due to controversy surrounding the Iran-Contra affair, and was reassigned to the Navy staff until retirement in 1987. His request to retire as a vice admiral was deferred by the secretary of the Navy due to expected congressional opposition.
To retire at three-star rank, or pay grade of rank, an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active-duty service in that rank, as determined by the secretary of defense. The president and Congress must also receive certification by either the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, the deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, or the secretary of defense that the retiree served satisfactorily in rank. The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years, but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct. The president may also reduce these requirements even further, or waive the requirements altogether, if he so chooses. Three-star officers who do not meet the service-in-rank requirement will retire at the last permanent rank satisfactorily held for six months. The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade. It is extraordinarily rare for a three-star or four-star officer not to be certified to retire in grade or for the Senate to seek final approval.
* For example, Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft was certified by the Senate in 1975 to retire as a lieutenant general despite holding said grade for only a year as national security advisor to the president.
* Lieutenant General Craig A. Franklin retired on 1 April 2014, with two years and two days in grade, in response to charges of partiality in overseeing cases of sexual assault in Third Air Force. Despite not being penalized for misconduct, his retirement before accumulating statutory time in grade resulted in his reduction to major general on the retired list.
* Lieutenant General Ronald F. Lewis was relieved as senior military assistant to the secretary of defense on 12 November 2015, with approximately four months in grade. He subsequently reverted to his permanent grade of major general pending an investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general for misconduct. His certification of satisfactory service as a major general was revoked, thus reducing his retirement grade to brigadier general.
Officers who are under investigation for misconduct typically are not allowed to retire until the investigation completes, so that the secretary of defense can decide whether to certify that their performance was satisfactory enough to retire in their highest grade.
* For example, Lieutenant General Lee K. Levy II relinquished his three-star command in 2018, but remained on active duty for over a year after his retirement ceremony in his permanent grade of major general pending an investigation by the Air Force inspector general, before being allowed to retire as a major general.
* Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller relinquished his three-star command as scheduled in 2014, but remained on active duty for almost a year in his permanent grade of rear admiral while under investigation for the Fat Leonard corruption scandal. He was permitted to retire at three-star grade after being censured by the secretary of the Navy.
Furthermore, all retired officers may still be subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and disciplinary action, including reduction in retirement grade, by the secretary of defense or the president if they are deemed to have served unsatisfactorily in grade, after their retirement.
* Lieutenant General Philip R. Kensinger Jr. retired in his three-star grade on 1 February 2006, but a subsequent investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general of the 2004 Pat Tillman friendly fire incident under his command resulted in a general officer memorandum of reprimand stating that Kensinger lied to previous investigators. The secretary of the Army waived a court-martial, but issued a letter of censure and overrode a grade review board to recommend that the secretary of defense withdraw the certification of satisfactory service issued by his predecessor, lowering Kensinger's retired grade to major general on 16 May 2008.
Officers holding a temporary three-star or four-star rank typically step down from their posts up to 60 days in advance of their official retirement dates. Officers retire on the first day of the month, so once a retirement month has been selected, the relief and retirement ceremonies are scheduled by counting backwards from that date by the number of days of accumulated leave remaining to the retiring officer. During this period, termed transition leave or terminal leave, the officer is considered to be awaiting retirement but still on active duty.
* For example, Lieutenant General Donald C. Wurster was relieved as commander of Air Force Special Operations Command on 24 June 2011, and held his retirement ceremony the same day, but remained on active duty until his official retirement date on 1 August 2011.