Vice admiral (United States)

Vice admiral (United States)
Name	Vice admiral
Caption	Insignia for a vice admiral
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	VADM
Rank	Three-star
Nato rank	OF-8
Formation	1864
Higher rank	Admiral
Lower rank	Rear admiral
Equivalent ranks	Lieutenant general

Vice admiral (United States). A vice admiral is a three-star 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. The rank is immediately senior to rear admiral and junior to admiral. Vice admirals typically hold major operational commands, serve as senior staff officers in the United States Department of Defense, or lead major agencies within their respective services.

History and origins

The rank of vice admiral in the United States Navy was authorized temporarily during the American Civil War with the appointment of David Farragut in 1864, following his victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay. The rank lapsed after the war until it was permanently established by an Act of Congress in 1915, partly in response to the expanding global role of the United States Fleet. The creation of the United States Coast Guard from the Revenue Cutter Service and United States Life-Saving Service in 1915 also established the rank within that service. The rank was later extended to the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps as those uniformed services developed their senior officer structures.

Rank insignia and uniform

The insignia for a vice admiral consists of three silver stars, worn on shoulder boards, the sleeves of service dress blue uniforms, and on the collars of khaki uniforms. The stars are arranged in a line, equivalent to the insignia for a lieutenant general in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. On service dress blue coats, the sleeve insignia features one broad gold stripe below two narrower stripes, with three silver stars above. The rank is also denoted by a gold embroidered crest on the front of the combination cap and specific arrangements of gold oak leaf embellishments on the visor.

Appointment and promotion

Appointment to the permanent rank of vice admiral requires confirmation by the United States Senate. Most vice admirals are promoted from the rank of rear admiral after serving in two-star flag officer billets. Key promotion considerations include a record of successful command at sea, such as leading a carrier strike group or numbered fleet, and significant joint duty assignments with the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Unified Combatant Command. Some positions, such as the Surgeon General of the United States or the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, carry an ex officio three-star rank.

Duties and command

Vice admirals hold some of the most senior command and staff positions within the United States armed forces. In the United States Navy, typical assignments include commanding a Unified Combatant Command like United States Strategic Command, leading a major shore establishment such as the Naval Sea Systems Command, or serving as the Chief of Naval Operations's deputy. In the United States Coast Guard, vice admirals may serve as the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard or as the commander of an Area. Their duties involve overseeing large-scale operations, formulating service-wide policy, and managing multi-billion dollar budgets.

Notable vice admirals

Numerous notable officers have held the rank, including James Stockdale, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. became the first African-American to attain the rank and command a United States Navy fleet. Michele Howard made history as the first woman to achieve the rank and later became the first African-American woman to command a United States Navy ship. In the United States Coast Guard, Vivien Crea served as the first female Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Equivalent ranks

The vice admiral rank is equivalent to the lieutenant general in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. It is also the equivalent to the three-star rank in most other NATO militaries, designated as OF-8. Within the United States government, the rank is considered equivalent to other three-star positions, such as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency or certain senior executive roles in the United States Department of State.

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