VICE ADMIRAL (VADM) — U.S. NAVY O-9
The Navy's three-star flag officer — Numbered Fleet commanders and senior service chiefs.
OVERVIEW
Vice Admiral (VADM) is the U.S. Navy O-9 flag officer rank — a three-star admiral, equivalent in paygrade to a Lieutenant General in the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. VADMs command Numbered Fleets (e.g., U.S. 3rd Fleet, U.S. 5th Fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet), serve as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations on the OPNAV staff, command Naval Forces Cyber Command, and hold senior positions at U.S. and combatant commands.
Unlike permanent O-1 through O-6 ranks, three-star (O-9) and four-star (O-10) positions are tied to specific billets. An officer holds the grade only while serving in a position designated for that grade by Congress.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Commander of a Numbered Fleet (e.g., U.S. 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Fleet)
- Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (e.g., DCNO for Operations, Plans, Strategy)
- Commander, Naval Air Forces (AIRPAC) or Commander, Naval Surface Forces (SURFPAC)
- Senior leader at a Combatant Command (e.g., Deputy Commander, USINDOPACOM)
HISTORY
The rank of Vice Admiral was authorized for the U.S. Navy in 1862 alongside the original creation of the Rear Admiral grade. The first U.S. Navy Vice Admiral was David Glasgow Farragut, who was promoted from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral in 1864.
In modern practice, VADMs occupy the most senior operational and staff positions in the Navy short of full Admiral. The number of three-star billets in each service is set annually by the Department of Defense and subject to statutory caps under 10 U.S.C.
PAY
- Selection by a flag-officer promotion board and Senate confirmation
- Successful service at the O-8 grade
- Position-tied promotion: must be assigned to an O-9 billet authorized by Congress
- Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (San Diego, CA)
- Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (Yokosuka, Japan)
- Deputy Chief of Naval Operations on the OPNAV staff (Pentagon)
- Commander, Naval Air Forces / Naval Surface Forces