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// Commissioned Officer · O-10 · NATO OF-9

ADMIRAL (ADM) — U.S. NAVY O-10

The Navy's four-star flag officer — Chief of Naval Operations and Navy Combatant Commanders.

Four silver stars — U.S. Navy Admiral flag insignia
Insignia
Paygrade
O-10
Abbreviation
ADM
NATO Code
OF-9
Category
Commissioned Officer
Basic Pay (2026)
$19,194–$19,194/mo
Flag Officer
Yes

OVERVIEW

Admiral (ADM) is the highest active-duty rank in the U.S. Navy at paygrade O-10 — a four-star admiral, equivalent in paygrade to a General in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. The Navy is authorized a small number of four-star billets at any given time, including the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), Combatant Commanders who are Navy officers (e.g., USINDOPACOM, USTRANSCOM), and Component Commanders (USFLTFORCOM, USPACFLT).

Like the three-star Vice Admiral grade, four-star Admiral is a position-tied rank — an officer holds the grade only while assigned to an O-10 billet authorized by Congress.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) — senior uniformed officer of the U.S. Navy and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)
  • Combatant Commander (e.g., Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command)
  • Navy Component Commander (Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet)

HISTORY

Congress first authorized the rank of Admiral for the U.S. Navy in 1866, promoting David Glasgow Farragut to the grade in recognition of his Civil War service. The grade was used sparingly until World War II, when Congress authorized the senior wartime ranks to recognize fleet and theater commanders.

The grade above Admiral — Fleet Admiral (five stars) — was created during World War II for William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King, Chester W. Nimitz, and William F. Halsey, Jr. No officer has held five-star rank since Fleet Admiral Halsey's death in 1959, and the grade is currently dormant.

PAY

O-10 basic pay · 2026 DFAS table
$19,194 – $19,194/ month
Statutory pay cap applies — flag-officer basic pay is capped at Executive Schedule Level III (5 U.S.C. § 5316).
How to address
Verbally "Admiral Smith." In writing: "ADM Jane Smith, USN."
Prerequisites
  • Nomination by the President and confirmation by the U.S. Senate
  • Position-tied promotion: must be assigned to an O-10 billet authorized by Congress
  • Successful service at the O-9 grade
Common assignments
  • Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Pentagon
  • Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, HI
  • Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), Norfolk, VA
  • Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT), Pearl Harbor, HI

ADJACENT RANKS

Previous · O-9Vice Admiral

RELATED BASE

Navy Base · HI
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
U.S. Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, is commanded by a four-star Admiral.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The U.S. Navy is typically authorized roughly 6–10 active-duty four-star Admirals at any given time, including the Chief of Naval Operations, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Combatant Commanders, and Component Commanders. The exact number depends on current Department of Defense allocations.

Yes — Fleet Admiral (five stars) was created during World War II. The rank has been dormant since the death of Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. in 1959, and no officer currently holds five-star rank.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02
All Officer RanksFull Rank Structure