REAR ADMIRAL (RADM) — U.S. NAVY O-8
The Navy's two-star flag officer — commanders of carrier strike groups and expeditionary strike groups.
OVERVIEW
Rear Admiral (RADM) is the U.S. Navy O-8 flag officer rank — a two-star admiral, equivalent in paygrade to a Major General in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. RADMs command Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs), Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), Submarine Group commands, and major shore activities. Promotion from RDML (O-7) to RADM (O-8) is by selection board, confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The two-star Rear Admiral is the most common operational flag-officer grade in the modern Navy and is the rank most often associated with at-sea strike-group command.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) — embarked aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier
- Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG)
- Commander, Submarine Group
- Director of a major Navy shore activity, training command, or laboratory
HISTORY
The Navy created the rank of Rear Admiral in 1862 to recognize David Glasgow Farragut, the first U.S. Navy officer to hold flag rank. Until 1981, the Navy used a single "Rear Admiral" title for both one- and two-star paygrades. After the 1981 reform, "Rear Admiral" was reserved for O-8 (two stars) and "Rear Admiral (Lower Half)" was created for O-7 (one star).
The "rear" in the title is historical: in age-of-sail squadron formations, the Rear Admiral commanded the rearmost division of a fleet, the Vice Admiral the center, and the Admiral the van.
PAY
- Selection by a flag-officer promotion board and Senate confirmation
- Successful service at the O-7 grade in command or major staff billets
- Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG-1 through CSG-12)
- Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG-2, ESG-3, ESG-7)
- Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet or U.S. Fleet Forces Command
- Director, OPNAV branch or warfighting division