Rear admiral (United States)

Rear admiral (United States)
source
Name	Rear admiral
Caption	Insignia for a rear admiral (lower half)
Country	United States
Service branch	United States Navy , United States Coast Guard , United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Abbreviation	RDML, RADM
Rank	Two-star rank
Pay grade	O-7, O-8
Formation	1862
Higher rank	Vice admiral
Lower rank	Captain
Equivalent	Major general

Rear admiral (United States). A rear admiral is a senior flag officer rank in the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, equivalent to a major general in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force. The rank is subdivided into two grades: rear admiral (lower half), a one-star rank at the O-7 pay grade, and rear admiral (upper half), a two-star rank at the O-8 pay grade. Rear admirals typically command large operational task forces, major shore installations, or serve in high-level staff positions within the United States Department of Defense or United States Department of Homeland Security.

History

The rank of rear admiral was established in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, with the first officer promoted being David Dixon Porter in 1862. Prior to this, the highest ranks were commodore and captain. The Naval Appropriations Act of 1862 authorized nine rear admirals, a number that expanded as the navy grew. The rank was later adopted by the United States Coast Guard upon its establishment and by the other uniformed services with commissioned corps. A significant reorganization occurred in 1985 when Congress aligned U.S. military ranks, formally splitting the single grade into rear admiral (lower half) and rear admiral (upper half), effectively reviving the one-star commodore rank under a new title.

Appointment

Appointment to the permanent grade of rear admiral (lower half) in the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard requires nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the United States Senate. Officers are selected via a highly competitive board process convened by the Secretary of the Navy or Secretary of Homeland Security. In the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, appointments are made by the President with Senate confirmation based on leadership roles within their respective agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or National Weather Service.

Rank insignia and uniform

A rear admiral (lower half) wears a single silver star on shoulder boards, service dress blue sleeves, and insignia of rank, identical to the former commodore rank. A rear admiral (upper half) wears two silver stars. On service and dress uniforms, sleeve stripes differ: a rear admiral (lower half) wears one broad gold stripe below two narrower ones, while a rear admiral (upper half) wears one broad stripe below three narrower ones. The style of the service dress uniform, including the mess dress and full dress variants, is consistent with other flag officer ranks, often featuring distinctive aiguillettes and embellished covers.

Duties and responsibilities

Duties vary widely but often include commanding a carrier strike group, amphibious ready group, or a numbered fleet such as the United States Sixth Fleet. Shore assignments may involve leading major systems commands like Naval Sea Systems Command, serving as a Chief of Naval Operations division director, or holding a senior post at the Pentagon on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the United States Coast Guard, rear admirals may command a Coast Guard District or serve as deputy commanders of operational forces like the Coast Guard Pacific Area. Officers in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps often lead agencies such as the Indian Health Service or direct responses for the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Promotion and advancement

Promotion from captain to rear admiral (lower half) is governed by statutory limits and a stringent selection board reviewing records of performance, command experience, and professional education, such as completion of courses at the Naval War College. Advancement to rear admiral (upper half) follows a similar process, with emphasis on successful performance in flag assignments. Federal law mandates that only a specific percentage of officers on the active duty list may serve in the higher grade. Time-in-service requirements are substantial, with most selectees having over 25 years of commissioned service, and promotions are contingent upon the availability of flag officer billets.

Notable rear admirals

Historically significant rear admirals include Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer programming; Richmond K. Turner, a key commander during the Guadalcanal Campaign; and Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender four-star officer in the U.S. uniformed services. Other notable figures are William Sowden Sims, who reformed naval gunnery; Louis M. Goldsborough, a Civil War commander; and Carla Janine "CJ" Jayne, a former Judge Advocate General's Corps leader. In the United States Coast Guard, Steven Poulin served as Vice Commandant, and in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, Evelyn J. Fields was the first woman and African American to command a NOAA ship.

Category:United States Navy ranks Category:Military ranks of the United States Coast Guard Category:Flag officers of the United States