Admiral (O-10)
Admiral is the highest active-duty rank in the US Navy, pay grade O-10. On khakis the insignia is four silver stars.
Easily confused with
How to read it
The Congressional Research Service lists admiral as a four-star rank, the equivalent of a general. On the blue coat sleeve it is a 5 cm (2 in) gold stripe with three 13 mm (½ in) stripes above it. It sits above Vice admiral (O-9). Navy.com calls admiral the highest active duty rank in the Navy; the five-star Fleet admiral was a wartime rank, and none has been appointed since William H. Halsey in 1945.
Also searched as: ADM, four-star admiral.
Ranks and insignia as the US Navy’s own uniform regulations and pages set them out. Pay grades are the Department of Defense’s.
The first admiral
The Naval History and Heritage Command says the Navy had no admirals until 1862, because many felt the title too reminiscent of royalty, and that Farragut was appointed the first admiral in 1866.
More navy ranks
Browse symbols drawn with stars.
Sources
- U.S. Military Rank Insignia, Resources: U.S. Military Rank Insignia (enlisted and officer insignia by paygrade), U.S. Department of Defense (defense.gov), Officer insignia; officer introduction
- 37 U.S.C. § 201: Pay grades, 37 U.S. Code § 201, Pay grades: assignment to; general rules, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, § 201(a)
- Navy Uniform Regulations, article 4101: Officer sleeve insignia, United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665J), art. 4101, Navy Personnel Command (MyNavy HR), art. 4101.3a
- Navy Uniform Regulations, article 4103: Shoulder insignia, United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665J), art. 4103, Navy Personnel Command (MyNavy HR), art. 4103.2c, 4103.4a
- U.S. Navy Ranks & Insignia, U.S. Navy Ranks & Insignia (navy.com), U.S. Navy Recruiting Command (navy.com), Commissioned Officer Ranks
- Statutory Framework for Congressional Management of DOD General and Flag Officers (CRS R44389), Congressional Research Service, R44389, updated 29 May 2026 (EveryCRSReport.com copy), Congressional Research Service, Table 1
- Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, “Admiral”, Naval Traditions: Names of Rank, Officer, “Admiral”, Naval History and Heritage Command, para. 3; para. 4
- Navy Uniform Regulations, article 4104: Collar grade insignia, United States Navy Uniform Regulations (NAVPERS 15665J), art. 4104, Navy Personnel Command (MyNavy HR), art. 4104.2–3
Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research