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List of active duty United States four-star officers

There are currently 39 active-duty four-star officers in the uniformed services of the United States: 15 in the Army, two in the Marine Corps, seven in the Navy, 11 in the Air Force, one in the Space Force, two in the Coast Guard, and one in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Of the eight federal uniformed services, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the only service that does not have an established four-star position.

Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff render a salute during the departure ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base for former President Ronald Reagan, 11 June 2004.

List of designated four-star positions Edit

Department of Defense Edit

Joint Chiefs of Staff Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Office of the Joint Staff
  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)   General
Charles Q. Brown Jr.[1]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS)   Admiral
Christopher W. Grady[2]
 
U.S. Navy

Unified combatant commands Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Unified combatant commands
  Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM)   General
Michael E. Langley[3]
 
U.S. Marine Corps
  Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)   General
Michael E. Kurilla[4]
 
U.S. Army
 
U.S. Cyber Command
 
National Security Agency
 
Central Security Service
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM),
Director, National Security Agency (NSA) and
Chief, Central Security Service (CSS)
  General
Paul M. Nakasone[5][6]
Retiring[7]
 
U.S. Army
 
U.S. European Command
 
Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)
  General
Christopher G. Cavoli[8]
 
U.S. Army
  Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)   Admiral
John C. Aquilino[9]
 
U.S. Navy
 
U.S. Northern Command
 
North American Aerospace Defense Command
Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and
Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
  General
Glen D. VanHerck[10][11]
Retiring[12]
 
U.S. Air Force
 
U.S. Southern Command
Commander, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)   General
Laura J. Richardson[13]
 
U.S. Army
  Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)   General
James H. Dickinson[14]
Retiring[12]
 
U.S. Army
  Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)   General
Bryan P. Fenton[15]
 
U.S. Army
  Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)   General
Anthony J. Cotton[16]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)   General
Jacqueline D. Van Ovost[17]
 
U.S. Air Force

Other joint positions Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
National Guard
  Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB)   General
Daniel R. Hokanson[18]
 
U.S. Army
Sub-unified commands
 
United Nations Command
 
ROK/US Combined Forces Command
 
United States Forces Korea
Korea
Commander, United Nations Command (UNC),
Commander, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and
Commander, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK)
  General
Paul J. LaCamera[19][20]
 
U.S. Army

Department of the Army Edit

United States Army Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Army staff
  Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA)   General
Randy A. George[21]
 
U.S. Army
  Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA)   Vacant  
U.S. Army
Army commands
  Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)   General
Andrew P. Poppas[22]
 
U.S. Army
 
U.S. Army Futures Command
Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC)   General
James E. Rainey[23]
 
U.S. Army
  Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC)
 
General
Charles R. Hamilton[24]
 
U.S. Army
 
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
 
Army University
Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and
Chancellor, Army University (ArmyU)
 
General
Gary M. Brito[25][26]
 
U.S. Army
Army service component commands
 
U.S. Army Europe and Africa
 
Allied Land Command
Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and
Commander, Allied Land Command (LANDCOM)
 
General
Darryl A. Williams[27][28]
 
U.S. Army
  Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)   General
Charles A. Flynn[29]
 
U.S. Army

Department of the Navy Edit

United States Marine Corps Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Headquarters Marine Corps
  Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC)   General
Eric M. Smith[30]
 
U.S. Marine Corps
  Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC)   Vacant  
U.S. Marine Corps

United States Navy Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
  Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)   Admiral
Lisa M. Franchetti[31]
Acting[32]
 
U.S. Navy
  Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)
  Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program[a] and
Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors[b]
  Admiral
James F. Caldwell Jr.[33]
Retiring[34]
 
U.S. Navy
Operating forces
 
U.S. Fleet Forces Command
 
U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command
Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF),
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH),
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and
Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC)
  Admiral
Daryl L. Caudle[35][36]
 
U.S. Navy
 
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa
 
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) and
Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples)
 
Admiral
Stuart B. Munsch[37][38]
 
U.S. Navy
  Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT)   Admiral
Samuel J. Paparo Jr.[39][c]
 
U.S. Navy

Department of the Air Force Edit

United States Air Force Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Air staff
  Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF)   General
David W. Allvin[40][c]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (VCSAF)
Air Force major commands
  Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC)   General
Mark D. Kelly[41]
Retiring[42]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC),
Commander, Air Forces Strategic- Air, U.S. Strategic Command and
Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC)
  General
Thomas A. Bussiere[43]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)   General
Duke Z. Richardson[44]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Commander, Air Mobility Command (AMC)   General
Michael A. Minihan[45]
 
U.S. Air Force
  Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF),
Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and
Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (PACOPS)
  General
Kenneth S. Wilsbach[46][c]
 
U.S. Air Force
 
United States Air Forces in Europe
 
United States Air Forces in Africa
 
Allied Air Command
Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA),
Commander, Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) and
Director, Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC)
 
General
James B. Hecker[47]
 
U.S. Air Force

United States Space Force Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Office of the Chief of Space Operations
  Chief of Space Operations (CSO)   General
B. Chance Saltzman[48]
 
U.S. Space
Force
  Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO)   Vacant  
U.S. Space
Force

Department of Homeland Security Edit

United States Coast Guard Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Office of the Commandant
  Commandant of the Coast Guard   Admiral
Linda L. Fagan[49]
 
U.S. Coast Guard
  Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard   Admiral
Steven D. Poulin[50]
 
U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Health and Human Services Edit

United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Edit

Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branch
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
  Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)[d]   Admiral
Rachel L. Levine[51]
 
U.S. Public Health Service

List of pending appointments Edit

Designated position insignia Designated position Current position Photo Name Service branch Status and date
 
U.S. Cyber Command
 
National Security Agency
 
Central Security Service
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM),
Director, National Security Agency (NSA) and
Chief, Central Security Service (CSS)
Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)
 
Lieutenant General
Timothy D. Haugh
 
U.S. Air Force
Hearings held
20 July 2023[52][53][54][55]
 
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT)   Admiral
Samuel J. Paparo Jr.
 
U.S. Navy
Nomination sent to the Senate
25 July 2023[52][56][57][58]
 
U.S. Northern Command
 
North American Aerospace Defense Command
Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and
Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)
Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)
 
Lieutenant General
Gregory M. Guillot
 
U.S. Air Force
Hearings held
26 July 2023[59][55][60]
 
U.S. Space Command
Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC)
 
Lieutenant General
Stephen N. Whiting
 
U.S. Space Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[61][62][60]
 
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) Director of the Joint Staff (DJS)   Lieutenant General
James J. Mingus
 
U.S. Army
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
20 July 2023[63]
 
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (DC P&R)   Lieutenant General
Christopher J. Mahoney
 
U.S. Marine Corps
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[64][65]
 
Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO)   Admiral
Lisa M. Franchetti
 
U.S. Navy
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[66][58][67]
 
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF),
Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH),
Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT) and Commander, Task Force 80 (CTF-80)
  Vice Admiral
James W. Kilby
 
U.S. Navy
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[56][68][58]
 
Naval Reactors
Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and
Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors
Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR),
Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT),
Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC),
Commander, Task Force 114 (CTF-114),
Commander, Task Force 88 (CTF-88)
and Commander, Task Force 46 (CTF-46)
  Vice Admiral
William J. Houston
 
U.S. Navy
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
17 May 2023[69][70]
  Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff and
Senior Member, United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee
  Vice Admiral
Stephen T. Koehler
 
U.S. Navy
Nomination sent to the Senate
25 July 2023[52][56][71][58]
 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (VCSAF)
 
General
David W. Allvin
 
U.S. Air Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[72][73][74]
  Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (VCSAF) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (A3)
 
Lieutenant General
James C. Slife
 
U.S. Air Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
27 September 2023[75][76]
 
Air Combat Command
Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC) Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF),
Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and
Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (PACOPS)
  General
Kenneth S. Wilsbach
 
U.S. Air Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
17 May 2023[77][78]
 
Pacific Air Forces
Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF),
Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and
Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (PACOPS)
Director of Staff of the United States Air Force (AF/DS)   Lieutenant General
Kevin B. Schneider
 
U.S. Air Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
17 May 2023[79][80]
 
Vice Chief of Space Operations
Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO) Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC)
 
Lieutenant General
Michael A. Guetlein
 
U.S. Space Force
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar
20 July 2023[81][62]

Statutory limits Edit

 
Gen. Charles C. Krulak, commandant of the Marine Corps, addresses the Marines of Headquarters Battalion, Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, during his farewell tour on 26 May 1999.
 
Gen. George S. Brown is pinned with four-star insignia by Air Force vice chief of staff Gen. Bruce K. Holloway.

The U.S. Code explicitly limits the total number of four-star officers that may be on active duty at any given time. The total number of active-duty general or flag officers is capped at 218 for the Army, 149 for the Navy, 170 for the Air Force, 62 for the Marine Corps, and 21 for the Space Force.[82] For the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, no more than about 23%[e] of each service's active-duty general or flag officers may have more than two stars,[83] and statute sets the total number of four-star officers allowed in each service.[83] This is set at eight four-star Army generals,[83] six four-star Navy admirals,[83] nine four-star Air Force generals,[83] two four-star Marine generals,[83] two four-star Space Force generals,[84][83] and two four-star Coast Guard admirals.[85]

 
Assistant Secretary of Health Adm. Brett P. Giroir speaks at a coronavirus update briefing in the White House Rose Garden, 27 April 2020.

Several of these slots are reserved by statute. For the Army and the Air Force, the chief of staff[86][87] and the vice chief of staff[88][89] for both services are all four-star generals; for the Navy, the chief[90] and vice chief of naval operations[91] are both four-star admirals; for the Marine Corps, the commandant[92] and the assistant commandant[93] are both four-star generals. For the Space Force, the chief of space operations is a four-star general.[94][f] For the Coast Guard, the commandant[95] and the vice commandant[96] are both four-star admirals. The chief of the National Guard Bureau[97] is a four-star general under reserve active duty in the Army or Air Force. And for the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the assistant secretary for health[98] is a four-star admiral if they hold an active-duty appointment to the regular corps.

Exceptions Edit

There are several exceptions to the limits allowing more than allotted four-star officers within the statute. The secretary of defense can designate no more than 19 additional four-star officers,[99] who do not count against any service's general- or flag-officer limit,[99] to serve in one of several joint positions. A four-star officer serving as chairman[100] or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[100] does not count against his or her service's general- or flag-officer cap. These joint positions include the commander of a unified combatant command,[101] the commander of U.S. Forces Korea,[101] and the chief of the National Guard Bureau.[102] Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limit, including the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[103] Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the President's discretion during time of war or national emergency.[104]

Appointment Edit

 
Gen. Thomas S. Power and Gen. Bernard A. Schriever testify at a 1962 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Four-star grades go hand-in-hand with the positions of office they are linked to, so these ranks are temporary. Officers may only achieve four-star grade if they are appointed to positions of office that require and/or allow the officer to hold such a rank.[105] Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute.[105] Four-star officers are nominated for appointment by the president from any eligible officers holding a one-star grade or above, who also meets the other requirements for the position, under the advice and/or suggestion of their respective executive department secretary, service secretary, and if applicable the joint chiefs.[105] The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.[105] The Senate (normally in committee)[g] may hold hearings to consider any nominee for appointment or reappointment to four-star grade,[106] but usually only convene for nominations of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vice chairman, service chiefs,[h] unified combatant commanders, and the commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

 
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Craddock, outgoing commander, and Adm. James G. Stavridis, incoming commander, salute during the national anthem at the U.S. European Command change of command ceremony on 30 June 2009.

It is extremely unusual for a four-star nominee to draw even token opposition in a Senate vote, either in committee or on the floor, because the administration usually withdraws or declines to submit nominations that draw controversy before or during the confirmation process.

  • For example, upon encountering opposition in the Senate, the administration declined to submit nominations for General Joseph W. Ralston to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1997.[107]
  • Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez was once the leading candidate to become commander of U.S. Southern Command in 2004. However, his name was never formally offered after members of the Senate Armed Services Committee took notice of his mismanagement of the Iraq War and the Abu Ghraib prison affair.[108]
  • General David L. Goldfein was the leading candidate to replace General Joseph Dunford as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2019, however due to disagreements between the secretary of defense and the president, the president disregarded the recommendation.[109][110]
  • The President withdrew the nomination of General Alexander Haig to be the Army chief of staff in 1974, due to controversy regarding his role as the White House Chief of Staff at the peak of the Watergate scandal which caused the nomination to stall in the Senate.[111][112]
  • General Peter Pace would have faced tough scrutiny from the Senate over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had he been nominated for reappointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2007.[113]
  • The President withdrew the nominations of Admiral Stanley R. Arthur to be commander in chief of U.S. Pacific Command in 1994,[114] and of General Gregory S. Martin to be commander of U.S. Pacific Command in 2004[115] over their handling of the Tailhook and Darleen Druyun scandals respectively.
 
Vice Adm. Michael M. Gilday is pinned with his admiral's shoulder boards by his mother and son on 22 August 2019.

When a doomed nomination is not withdrawn, the Senate typically does not hold a vote to reject the candidate, but instead allows the nomination to expire without action at the end of the legislative session.

  • For example, the Senate declined to schedule a vote for the nomination of Lieutenant General James A. Abrahamson to be elevated to four-star rank as director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization in 1986.[116]
  • The Senate also declined to vote on Lieutenant General Charles W. Bagnal's nomination for four-star rank and as commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific in 1989.[117]
  • Major General John D. Lavelle was nominated to be posthumously restored to four-star rank on the retired list in 2010, but the nomination also expired in the Senate without action.[118]
  • And Rear Admiral Cristina V. Beato was nominated to be assistant secretary for health in 2003 but her nomination also was not placed on the Senate schedule for a vote.[119] Had Beato been confirmed and assumed office, she would have been the first woman in any uniformed service to achieve four-star grade; instead that honor went to General Ann E. Dunwoody.

Additionally, events that take place after confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office, necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate.

  • For example, Admiral William F. Moran was confirmed in May 2019 to be the chief of naval operations,[120] but abruptly retired[121] due to an investigation into his correspondence with a former subordinate accused of sexual harassment[122] and usage of his personal email for military purposes.[123] Consequently, Vice Admiral Michael M. Gilday was nominated for promotion to admiral and appointment as CNO,[124] for which he was confirmed and assumed office in August 2019.[125]

Command elevation and reduction Edit

 
Adm. Charles D. Michel, Coast Guard vice commandant, is pinned with his new rank by his wife Claudia on 1 June 2016.
 
Gen. Frank J. Grass is sworn in as chief of the National Guard Bureau by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on 17 September 2012.

Any billet in the armed forces may be designated as a position of importance requiring the holder of the position to be of three-star or four-star rank.[105] One-star and two-star billets may be elevated to three-star or four-star level as appropriate, either by act of Congress, or within statutory limits by the services at their discretion. Congress may propose such elevations or reductions to the President and U.S. Department of Defense.[126] Due to the limited number of four-star slots available, significant changes occur on average every four to five years.

The existing commander of a lower-level command or office elevated to four-star rank can be appointed to grade in their present position, reassigned to another office of equal grade, or face retirement if another nominee is selected as their relief.

  • For example, Lieutenant General Christopher G. Cavoli, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, was nominated for promotion to general in 2020[127] in concert with the consolidation of his command and U.S. Army Africa into U.S. Army Europe and Africa. He was promoted on 1 October 2020[128] and assumed command of the consolidated USAREUR-AF on 20 November 2020.[129]
  • Lieutenant General Francis J. Wiercinski could have been nominated for promotion to general as U.S. Army Pacific transitioned to a four-star command, since as of May 2013, he had more than 200 days remaining on his customary three-year tour. Lieutenant General Vincent K. Brooks was instead nominated for promotion,[130] and Wiercinski retired on 4 June 2013.[131]

A lower level billet may be elevated to four-star grade, in accordance to being designated as a position of importance, to highlight importance to the defense apparatus as a whole or achieve parity with equivalent commands in the same area of responsibility or service branch.

  • For example, the statutory rank of the vice commandant of the Coast Guard was raised to admiral by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, to align the leadership structure of the Coast Guard to that of the other armed services[132] and recognize the important role of the vice commandant at the national level.[132] The incumbent vice commandant, Vice Admiral Charles D. Michel, was confirmed for promotion to admiral,[133] and assumed the rank on 1 June 2016.[134]
  • The statutory rank of the chief of the National Guard Bureau was raised to general by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, with significant congressional support.[135] Lieutenant General Craig R. McKinley, then director of the Air National Guard, was confirmed for promotion to general,[136] and assumed the rank and accompanying office on 17 November 2008.[137]

Tour length Edit

 
Gen. Alexander Haig is presented the Distinguished Service Medal by President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office on 4 January 1973.

The standard tour length for most four-star positions is three years, bundled as a two-year term plus a one-year extension, with the following exceptions:

  • The chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serve for a nominal four-year term.[138][139]
  • Service chiefs of staff serve a nominal four-year term.[86][92][90][87][94][95]
  • The chief of the National Guard Bureau serves a nominal four-year term.[102]
  • The director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion serves for a nominal eight-year term.[140]

All appointees serve at the pleasure of the president. Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved, within statutory limits, by their respective service secretaries, the secretary of defense, the president, and/or Congress but these are rare, as they block other officers from being promoted. Some statutory limits of tour length under the U.S. Code can be waived in times of national emergency or war.[138][139] Four-star ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare.

Retirement Edit

 
Gen. David C. Jones with Vice President George H. W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger during Jones' retirement ceremony on 18 June 1982.
 
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates presents Gen. Peter Pace with his certificate of retirement, his wife Lynne looks on, 1 October 2007.

Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Regular four-star officers must retire after 40 years of active commissioned service unless reappointed to grade to serve longer.[141] Reserve four-star officers must retire after five years in grade or 40 years of commissioned service, whichever is later, unless reappointed to grade to serve longer.[142] Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday.[143] However, the secretary of defense can defer a four-star officer's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday[143] and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday.[143] Officers that served several years in the enlisted ranks prior to receiving their commission typically don't make it to the 40 years of commissioned service mark, because they are still subject to the age restrictions for retirement.

  • For example, Admiral Michael G. Mullen was born on 4 October 1946; placed on active duty in 1968 and promoted to admiral on 23 August 2003. Ordinarily, he would have been expected to retire at the end of his four-year term as chief of naval operations in 2008 after 40 years of service. Instead, he was reappointed as an admiral and appointed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 October 2007. He retired from the Navy after serving two, two-year terms as chairman on 1 October 2011, at the age of 65 with 43 years of service and eight years in grade.
  • General James F. Amos was born on 12 November 1946; placed on active duty in 1970 and promoted to general on 3 July 2008. Ordinarily, he would have been expected to retire at the end of his two-year term as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps in 2010 after 40 years of service. Instead, he was reappointed as a general and appointed as commandant of the Marine Corps on 22 October 2010. He retired from the Marine Corps after completing his four-year term as commandant on 17 October 2014, at the age of 67 with 44 years of service and six years in grade.
  • General Frank J. Grass was born on 19 May 1951; enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969 and received his commission in 1981. He was appointed as a general in the active duty reserves and assigned as chief of the National Guard Bureau on 7 September 2012. He remained on reserve active duty until he completed his four-year term as chief and retired from the Army on 3 August 2016, at 65 years of age with 35 years in commissioned service, 47 years of total service, and four years in grade.
 
Gen. John P. Jumper is presented the Defense Distinguished Service Medal by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during Jumper's retirement ceremony on 2 September 2005.
 
Outgoing Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark delivers his final remarks during his retirement ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy on 22 July 2005.

Senior officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits, so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors. Since there are a finite number of four-star slots available to each service, typically one officer must leave office before another can be promoted.[144] Maintaining a four-star rank is like a game of musical chairs; once an officer vacates a position bearing that rank, he or she has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal or greater importance before he or she is expected to retire.[105] Historically, officers leaving four-star positions were allowed to revert to their permanent two-star ranks to mark time in lesser jobs until statutory retirement, but now such officers are expected to retire immediately to avoid obstructing the promotion flow.

  • For example, Vice Admiral Patrick M. Walsh was promoted to admiral and appointed as vice chief of naval operations in 2007. The incumbent vice chief, Admiral Robert F. Willard, was appointed as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The incumbent Pacific Fleet commander, Admiral Gary Roughead, was appointed as commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, whose incumbent commander, Admiral John B. Nathman, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 59, with 37 years of service and three years in grade.
  • Lieutenant General Gary L. North was promoted to general and appointed as commander of Pacific Air Forces in 2009. The incumbent Pacific Air Forces commander, General Carrol Chandler, was appointed as vice chief of staff of the Air Force, while the incumbent vice chief, General William M. Fraser III, was appointed as commander of Air Combat Command, whose incumbent commander, General John D. W. Corley, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 58, with 36 years of service and four years in grade.
 
Annie McChrystal and her husband Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal smile during his retirement ceremony in Washington, D.C., on 23 July 2010.

To retire at four-star grade, an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active-duty service in that grade, as determined by the secretary of defense.[145] The president and Congress must also receive certification by the secretary of defense that the retiree served satisfactorily in grade.[145] The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years, and the president may waive this requirement altogether, but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct.[145][146] Four-star officers who do not meet the service-in-grade requirement will revert to the next highest grade in which they served satisfactorily for at least six months which is normally the three-star grade.[145] Since three-star ranks are also temporary, if the retiree is also not certified by the secretary of defense or the president to retire as a three-star, the retiree will retire at the last permanent rank he or she satisfactorily held for six months.[145] The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade.[i] It is rare for a four-star officer not to be certified to retire in grade or for the Senate to seek final approval.

  • For example, when removed from office after less than the statutory time in grade, Generals Frederick F. Woerner[147] and Stanley A. McChrystal[148] were retired as full generals as certified by the President and were not subjected to senatorial confirmation.
  • Admirals Husband E. Kimmel and Richard C. Macke were not certified to retire at three-star or four-star rank, and retired as two-star rear admirals.[149]
  • General Kevin P. Byrnes had over two years in grade but was being investigated for misconduct, and retired as a lieutenant general.[150]
  • In 1972 General John D. Lavelle was relieved for misconduct and certified to retire as a lieutenant general, but was rejected by a Senate Armed Services Committee vote of 14 to 2 and retired as a major general; in 2010 he was nominated posthumously for advancement to general on the retired list based on newly declassified evidence,[151] however as stated above, the Senate did not vote on the nomination and let it expire at the end of the Congressional session.[118]
  • General Michael J. Dugan retired as a full general as certified by the President, but only after receiving approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee.[152]
  • After achieving the statutory time in grade, Admirals Frank B. Kelso II and Henry H. Mauz Jr. were retired as full admirals, but only after going through a full senatorial confirmation vote of 54 to 43[153] and 92 to 6,[154] respectively.

Four-star officers who are under investigation for misconduct typically are not allowed to retire until the investigation completes, so that the Secretary of Defense can decide whether to certify that their performance was satisfactory enough to retire in their highest grade.[145][155]

  • For example, an investigation by the Department of Defense comptroller held Generals Roger A. Brady and Stephen R. Lorenz in their four-star commands for up to 13 months beyond their originally scheduled retirements.[156]
  • General William E. Ward relinquished his four-star command as scheduled, but remained on active duty in his permanent grade of major general pending an investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general,[155] before being allowed to retire as a lieutenant general over a year after his original scheduled retirement.[157]
  • Admiral Samuel J. Locklear was held in his four-star command for months beyond his original scheduled retirement by the Navy's Consolidated Disposition Authority, while under investigation for the Fat Leonard corruption scandal before being cleared of any wrongdoing.[158]
 
Gen. David Petraeus reviews troops at his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, 31 August 2011.

Furthermore, retired four-star officers may still be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and disciplinary action, including reduction in retirement rank, by the secretary of defense or the president if they are deemed to have served unsatisfactorily in rank, post-retirement.[159]

  • General David H. Petraeus, who had retired from the Army as a four-star general on 31 August 2011, faced punitive action from the secretary of defense over four years past his retirement date for mishandling classified materials while serving as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.[160] He was allowed to retain his four-star rank in retirement with the recommendation of the secretary of the Army[159] and strong support from ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.[161]
  • General Arthur Lichte, who had retired from the Air Force as a four-star general on 1 January 2010, received a letter of reprimand from the secretary of the Air Force for sexually assaulting a subordinate female officer on multiple occasions, over six years after his retirement date.[162] The secretary of defense withdrew Lichte's certification of satisfactory service,[163] and reduced his retirement rank to major general,[163] which the Air Force determined was his last permanent rank he served in satisfactorily.[163] Lichte could have faced charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, however since the allegations were not reported or investigated until over five years past when they occurred, the statute of limitations bars having charges being brought up for prosecution.[162]
 
Adm. William J. Crowe Jr. shares a lighter moment with guests attending his retirement ceremony on 29 September 1989.

Four-star officers typically step down from their posts up to 60 days in advance of their official retirement dates. Officers retire on the first day of the month, so once a retirement month has been selected, the relief and retirement ceremonies are scheduled by counting backwards from that date by the number of days of accumulated leave remaining to the retiring officer. During this period, termed transition leave or terminal leave, the officer is considered to be awaiting retirement but still on active duty.

  • For example, General Michael Hagee was relieved as commandant of the Marine Corps on 13 November 2006, and held his retirement ceremony the same day, but remained on active duty until his official retirement date on 1 January 2007.

A statutory limit can be waived by the president with the consent of Congress if it serves national interest. However, this is extremely rare.

  • For example, the record for the longest tenure in any service is held by General Lewis B. Hershey who enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard in 1911 at the age of 18. He was called up for federal active duty during World War I, receiving a commission in 1916, and subsequently transferred to the regular army at the end of the war. He served in active duty in the Army until the age of 80 before being involuntarily retired in 1973 after 62 years of continuous service.
  • Admiral Hyman G. Rickover is listed as serving for 63 years in the Navy from 1918 to 1982. However his service reflects a time when attending any military academy was considered active duty service due in part from World War I. In today's military rules and regulations, an officer who initially begins their career through a military academy does not begin their service until upon receiving their commission after graduation, even though they are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice while attending the academy.

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Historically, the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program is held by an officer in the Navy, however 50 U.S.C. § 2511 - Executive Order No. 12344, states a civilian can be appointed to that position without joining or being a serving member of the Navy.
  2. ^ By statute, 50 U.S.C. § 2406, any person serving as Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program also concurrently serves as the National Nuclear Security Administration's Deputy Administrator, Naval Reactors.
  3. ^ a b c Nomination for reappointment to four-star grade currently or to be included in Senate hold.
  4. ^ The position of Assistant Secretary of Health has historically been held by either a civilian or an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
  5. ^ Dividing the total number of general and flag officers above two stars (148) from the total number of general and flag officers overall (620) is 23.87%.
  6. ^ The U.S. Code does not provide for a statutory grade for the vice chief of space operations, a four-star Space Force general.
  7. ^ Department of Defense nominees are considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Coast Guard nominees are considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the director of the National Security Agency is considered by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
  8. ^ This refers to the chiefs of staff of the Army and Air Force, commandant of the Marine Corps, chief of naval operations, chief of space operations and the commandant of the Coast Guard.
  9. ^ The U.S. Constitution gives Congress oversight over retirement of military personnel if they so choose.

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list, active, duty, united, states, four, star, officers, list, united, states, four, star, officers, redirects, here, complete, historical, list, four, star, officers, service, army, generals, marine, corps, generals, navy, admirals, force, generals, space, f. List of United States four star officers redirects here For a complete historical list of U S four star officers by service see Army generals Marine Corps generals Navy admirals Air Force generals Space Force generals Coast Guard admirals or Public Health Service admirals There are currently 39 active duty four star officers in the uniformed services of the United States 15 in the Army two in the Marine Corps seven in the Navy 11 in the Air Force one in the Space Force two in the Coast Guard and one in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Of the eight federal uniformed services the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the only service that does not have an established four star position Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff render a salute during the departure ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base for former President Ronald Reagan 11 June 2004 Contents 1 List of designated four star positions 1 1 Department of Defense 1 1 1 Joint Chiefs of Staff 1 1 2 Unified combatant commands 1 1 3 Other joint positions 1 2 Department of the Army 1 2 1 United States Army 1 3 Department of the Navy 1 3 1 United States Marine Corps 1 3 2 United States Navy 1 4 Department of the Air Force 1 4 1 United States Air Force 1 4 2 United States Space Force 1 5 Department of Homeland Security 1 5 1 United States Coast Guard 1 6 Department of Health and Human Services 1 6 1 United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps 2 List of pending appointments 3 Statutory limits 3 1 Exceptions 4 Appointment 5 Command elevation and reduction 6 Tour length 7 Retirement 8 See also 9 Notes 10 ReferencesList of designated four star positions EditDepartment of Defense Edit Joint Chiefs of Staff Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchOffice of the Joint Staff nbsp Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CJCS nbsp GeneralCharles Q Brown Jr 1 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff VJCS nbsp AdmiralChristopher W Grady 2 nbsp U S NavyUnified combatant commands Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchUnified combatant commands nbsp Commander U S Africa Command USAFRICOM nbsp GeneralMichael E Langley 3 nbsp U S Marine Corps nbsp Commander U S Central Command USCENTCOM nbsp GeneralMichael E Kurilla 4 nbsp U S Army nbsp U S Cyber Command nbsp National Security Agency nbsp Central Security Service Commander U S Cyber Command USCYBERCOM Director National Security Agency NSA andChief Central Security Service CSS nbsp GeneralPaul M Nakasone 5 6 Retiring 7 nbsp U S Army nbsp U S European Command nbsp Supreme Allied Commander Europe Commander U S European Command USEUCOM andSupreme Allied Commander Europe SACEUR nbsp GeneralChristopher G Cavoli 8 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commander U S Indo Pacific Command USINDOPACOM nbsp AdmiralJohn C Aquilino 9 nbsp U S Navy nbsp U S Northern Command nbsp North American Aerospace Defense Command Commander U S Northern Command USNORTHCOM andCommander North American Aerospace Defense Command NORAD nbsp GeneralGlen D VanHerck 10 11 Retiring 12 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp U S Southern Command Commander U S Southern Command USSOUTHCOM nbsp GeneralLaura J Richardson 13 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commander U S Space Command USSPACECOM nbsp GeneralJames H Dickinson 14 Retiring 12 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commander U S Special Operations Command USSOCOM nbsp GeneralBryan P Fenton 15 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commander U S Strategic Command USSTRATCOM nbsp GeneralAnthony J Cotton 16 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Commander U S Transportation Command USTRANSCOM nbsp GeneralJacqueline D Van Ovost 17 nbsp U S Air ForceOther joint positions Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchNational Guard nbsp Chief of the National Guard Bureau CNGB nbsp GeneralDaniel R Hokanson 18 nbsp U S ArmySub unified commands nbsp United Nations Command nbsp ROK US Combined Forces Command nbsp United States Forces Korea KoreaCommander United Nations Command UNC Commander ROK U S Combined Forces Command CFC andCommander U S Forces Korea USFK nbsp GeneralPaul J LaCamera 19 20 nbsp U S ArmyDepartment of the Army Edit United States Army Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchArmy staff nbsp Chief of Staff of the Army CSA nbsp GeneralRandy A George 21 nbsp U S Army nbsp Vice Chief of Staff of the Army VCSA nbsp Vacant nbsp U S ArmyArmy commands nbsp Commanding General U S Army Forces Command FORSCOM nbsp GeneralAndrew P Poppas 22 nbsp U S Army nbsp U S Army Futures Command Commanding General U S Army Futures Command AFC nbsp GeneralJames E Rainey 23 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commanding General U S Army Materiel Command AMC nbsp GeneralCharles R Hamilton 24 nbsp U S Army nbsp U S Army Training and Doctrine Command nbsp Army University Commanding General U S Army Training and Doctrine Command TRADOC andChancellor Army University ArmyU nbsp GeneralGary M Brito 25 26 nbsp U S ArmyArmy service component commands nbsp U S Army Europe and Africa nbsp Allied Land Command Commanding General U S Army Europe and Africa USAREUR AF andCommander Allied Land Command LANDCOM nbsp GeneralDarryl A Williams 27 28 nbsp U S Army nbsp Commanding General U S Army Pacific USARPAC nbsp GeneralCharles A Flynn 29 nbsp U S ArmyDepartment of the Navy Edit United States Marine Corps Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchHeadquarters Marine Corps nbsp Commandant of the Marine Corps CMC nbsp GeneralEric M Smith 30 nbsp U S Marine Corps nbsp Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps ACMC nbsp Vacant nbsp U S Marine CorpsUnited States Navy Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchOffice of the Chief of Naval Operations nbsp Chief of Naval Operations CNO nbsp AdmiralLisa M Franchetti 31 Acting 32 nbsp U S Navy nbsp Vice Chief of Naval Operations VCNO nbsp Director Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program a andDeputy Administrator NNSA s Naval Reactors b nbsp AdmiralJames F Caldwell Jr 33 Retiring 34 nbsp U S NavyOperating forces nbsp U S Fleet Forces Command nbsp U S Naval Forces Strategic Command Commander U S Fleet Forces Command USFF Commander U S Naval Forces Northern Command NAVNORTH Commander U S Naval Forces Strategic Command NAVSTRAT andJoint Force Maritime Component Commander JFMCC nbsp AdmiralDaryl L Caudle 35 36 nbsp U S Navy nbsp U S Naval Forces Europe Africa nbsp Allied Joint Force Command Naples Commander U S Naval Forces Europe Africa CNE CNA andCommander Allied Joint Force Command Naples JFC Naples nbsp AdmiralStuart B Munsch 37 38 nbsp U S Navy nbsp Commander U S Pacific Fleet USPACFLT nbsp AdmiralSamuel J Paparo Jr 39 c nbsp U S NavyDepartment of the Air Force Edit United States Air Force Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchAir staff nbsp Chief of Staff of the Air Force CSAF nbsp GeneralDavid W Allvin 40 c nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force VCSAF Air Force major commands nbsp Commander Air Combat Command ACC nbsp GeneralMark D Kelly 41 Retiring 42 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Commander Air Force Global Strike Command AFGSC Commander Air Forces Strategic Air U S Strategic Command andJoint Force Air Component Commander JFACC nbsp GeneralThomas A Bussiere 43 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Commander Air Force Materiel Command AFMC nbsp GeneralDuke Z Richardson 44 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Commander Air Mobility Command AMC nbsp GeneralMichael A Minihan 45 nbsp U S Air Force nbsp Commander Pacific Air Forces PACAF Air Component Commander for U S Indo Pacific Command andExecutive Director Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff PACOPS nbsp GeneralKenneth S Wilsbach 46 c nbsp U S Air Force nbsp United States Air Forces in Europe nbsp United States Air Forces in Africa nbsp Allied Air Command Commander U S Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa USAFE AFAFRICA Commander Allied Air Command AIRCOM andDirector Joint Air Power Competence Centre JAPCC nbsp GeneralJames B Hecker 47 nbsp U S Air ForceUnited States Space Force Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchOffice of the Chief of Space Operations nbsp Chief of Space Operations CSO nbsp GeneralB Chance Saltzman 48 nbsp U S SpaceForce nbsp Vice Chief of Space Operations VCSO nbsp Vacant nbsp U S SpaceForceDepartment of Homeland Security Edit United States Coast Guard Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchOffice of the Commandant nbsp Commandant of the Coast Guard nbsp AdmiralLinda L Fagan 49 nbsp U S Coast Guard nbsp Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard nbsp AdmiralSteven D Poulin 50 nbsp U S Coast GuardDepartment of Health and Human Services Edit United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Edit Position insignia Position Photo Incumbent Service branchOffice of the Assistant Secretary for Health nbsp Assistant Secretary for Health ASH d nbsp AdmiralRachel L Levine 51 nbsp U S Public Health ServiceList of pending appointments EditDesignated position insignia Designated position Current position Photo Name Service branch Status and date nbsp U S Cyber Command nbsp National Security Agency nbsp Central Security Service Commander U S Cyber Command USCYBERCOM Director National Security Agency NSA andChief Central Security Service CSS Deputy Commander U S Cyber Command USCYBERCOM nbsp Lieutenant GeneralTimothy D Haugh nbsp U S Air Force Hearings held20 July 2023 52 53 54 55 nbsp U S Indo Pacific Command Commander U S Indo Pacific Command USINDOPACOM Commander U S Pacific Fleet USPACFLT nbsp AdmiralSamuel J Paparo Jr nbsp U S Navy Nomination sent to the Senate25 July 2023 52 56 57 58 nbsp U S Northern Command nbsp North American Aerospace Defense Command Commander U S Northern Command USNORTHCOM andCommander North American Aerospace Defense Command NORAD Deputy Commander U S Central Command USCENTCOM nbsp Lieutenant GeneralGregory M Guillot nbsp U S Air Force Hearings held26 July 2023 59 55 60 nbsp U S Space Command Commander U S Space Command USSPACECOM Commander Space Operations Command SpOC nbsp Lieutenant GeneralStephen N Whiting nbsp U S Space Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 61 62 60 nbsp Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Vice Chief of Staff of the Army VCSA Director of the Joint Staff DJS nbsp Lieutenant GeneralJames J Mingus nbsp U S Army Placed on Senate Executive Calendar20 July 2023 63 nbsp Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps ACMC Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources DC P amp R nbsp Lieutenant GeneralChristopher J Mahoney nbsp U S Marine Corps Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 64 65 nbsp Chief of Naval Operations Chief of Naval Operations CNO Vice Chief of Naval Operations VCNO nbsp AdmiralLisa M Franchetti nbsp U S Navy Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 66 58 67 nbsp Vice Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations VCNO Deputy Commander U S Fleet Forces Command USFF Deputy Commander U S Naval Forces Northern Command NAVNORTH Deputy Commander U S Naval Forces Strategic Command NAVSTRAT and Commander Task Force 80 CTF 80 nbsp Vice AdmiralJames W Kilby nbsp U S Navy Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 56 68 58 nbsp Naval Reactors Director Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program andDeputy Administrator NNSA s Naval Reactors Commander Submarine Forces COMSUBFOR Commander Submarine Force U S Atlantic Fleet COMSUBLANT Commander Allied Submarine Command ASC Commander Task Force 114 CTF 114 Commander Task Force 88 CTF 88 and Commander Task Force 46 CTF 46 nbsp Vice AdmiralWilliam J Houston nbsp U S Navy Placed on Senate Executive Calendar17 May 2023 69 70 nbsp Commander U S Pacific Fleet USPACFLT Director for Strategy Plans and Policy J 5 Joint Staff andSenior Member United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee nbsp Vice AdmiralStephen T Koehler nbsp U S Navy Nomination sent to the Senate25 July 2023 52 56 71 58 nbsp Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chief of Staff of the Air Force CSAF Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force VCSAF nbsp GeneralDavid W Allvin nbsp U S Air Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 72 73 74 nbsp Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force VCSAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations A3 nbsp Lieutenant GeneralJames C Slife nbsp U S Air Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar27 September 2023 75 76 nbsp Air Combat Command Commander Air Combat Command ACC Commander Pacific Air Forces PACAF Air Component Commander for U S Indo Pacific Command andExecutive Director Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff PACOPS nbsp GeneralKenneth S Wilsbach nbsp U S Air Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar17 May 2023 77 78 nbsp Pacific Air Forces Commander Pacific Air Forces PACAF Air Component Commander for U S Indo Pacific Command andExecutive Director Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff PACOPS Director of Staff of the United States Air Force AF DS nbsp Lieutenant GeneralKevin B Schneider nbsp U S Air Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar17 May 2023 79 80 nbsp Vice Chief of Space Operations Vice Chief of Space Operations VCSO Commander Space Systems Command SSC nbsp Lieutenant GeneralMichael A Guetlein nbsp U S Space Force Placed on Senate Executive Calendar20 July 2023 81 62 Statutory limits Edit nbsp Gen Charles C Krulak commandant of the Marine Corps addresses the Marines of Headquarters Battalion Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base Hawaii during his farewell tour on 26 May 1999 nbsp Gen George S Brown is pinned with four star insignia by Air Force vice chief of staff Gen Bruce K Holloway The U S Code explicitly limits the total number of four star officers that may be on active duty at any given time The total number of active duty general or flag officers is capped at 218 for the Army 149 for the Navy 170 for the Air Force 62 for the Marine Corps and 21 for the Space Force 82 For the Army Marine Corps Navy and Air Force no more than about 23 e of each service s active duty general or flag officers may have more than two stars 83 and statute sets the total number of four star officers allowed in each service 83 This is set at eight four star Army generals 83 six four star Navy admirals 83 nine four star Air Force generals 83 two four star Marine generals 83 two four star Space Force generals 84 83 and two four star Coast Guard admirals 85 nbsp Assistant Secretary of Health Adm Brett P Giroir speaks at a coronavirus update briefing in the White House Rose Garden 27 April 2020 Several of these slots are reserved by statute For the Army and the Air Force the chief of staff 86 87 and the vice chief of staff 88 89 for both services are all four star generals for the Navy the chief 90 and vice chief of naval operations 91 are both four star admirals for the Marine Corps the commandant 92 and the assistant commandant 93 are both four star generals For the Space Force the chief of space operations is a four star general 94 f For the Coast Guard the commandant 95 and the vice commandant 96 are both four star admirals The chief of the National Guard Bureau 97 is a four star general under reserve active duty in the Army or Air Force And for the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps the assistant secretary for health 98 is a four star admiral if they hold an active duty appointment to the regular corps Exceptions Edit There are several exceptions to the limits allowing more than allotted four star officers within the statute The secretary of defense can designate no more than 19 additional four star officers 99 who do not count against any service s general or flag officer limit 99 to serve in one of several joint positions A four star officer serving as chairman 100 or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 100 does not count against his or her service s general or flag officer cap These joint positions include the commander of a unified combatant command 101 the commander of U S Forces Korea 101 and the chief of the National Guard Bureau 102 Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limit including the director of the Central Intelligence Agency 103 Finally all statutory limits may be waived at the President s discretion during time of war or national emergency 104 Appointment Edit nbsp Gen Thomas S Power and Gen Bernard A Schriever testify at a 1962 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Four star grades go hand in hand with the positions of office they are linked to so these ranks are temporary Officers may only achieve four star grade if they are appointed to positions of office that require and or allow the officer to hold such a rank 105 Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office which is usually set by statute 105 Four star officers are nominated for appointment by the president from any eligible officers holding a one star grade or above who also meets the other requirements for the position under the advice and or suggestion of their respective executive department secretary service secretary and if applicable the joint chiefs 105 The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank 105 The Senate normally in committee g may hold hearings to consider any nominee for appointment or reappointment to four star grade 106 but usually only convene for nominations of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff vice chairman service chiefs h unified combatant commanders and the commander of U S Forces Korea nbsp Adm Mike Mullen chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen John Craddock outgoing commander and Adm James G Stavridis incoming commander salute during the national anthem at the U S European Command change of command ceremony on 30 June 2009 It is extremely unusual for a four star nominee to draw even token opposition in a Senate vote either in committee or on the floor because the administration usually withdraws or declines to submit nominations that draw controversy before or during the confirmation process For example upon encountering opposition in the Senate the administration declined to submit nominations for General Joseph W Ralston to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1997 107 Lieutenant General Ricardo S Sanchez was once the leading candidate to become commander of U S Southern Command in 2004 However his name was never formally offered after members of the Senate Armed Services Committee took notice of his mismanagement of the Iraq War and the Abu Ghraib prison affair 108 General David L Goldfein was the leading candidate to replace General Joseph Dunford as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2019 however due to disagreements between the secretary of defense and the president the president disregarded the recommendation 109 110 The President withdrew the nomination of General Alexander Haig to be the Army chief of staff in 1974 due to controversy regarding his role as the White House Chief of Staff at the peak of the Watergate scandal which caused the nomination to stall in the Senate 111 112 General Peter Pace would have faced tough scrutiny from the Senate over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had he been nominated for reappointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2007 113 The President withdrew the nominations of Admiral Stanley R Arthur to be commander in chief of U S Pacific Command in 1994 114 and of General Gregory S Martin to be commander of U S Pacific Command in 2004 115 over their handling of the Tailhook and Darleen Druyun scandals respectively nbsp Vice Adm Michael M Gilday is pinned with his admiral s shoulder boards by his mother and son on 22 August 2019 When a doomed nomination is not withdrawn the Senate typically does not hold a vote to reject the candidate but instead allows the nomination to expire without action at the end of the legislative session For example the Senate declined to schedule a vote for the nomination of Lieutenant General James A Abrahamson to be elevated to four star rank as director of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization in 1986 116 The Senate also declined to vote on Lieutenant General Charles W Bagnal s nomination for four star rank and as commanding general of U S Army Pacific in 1989 117 Major General John D Lavelle was nominated to be posthumously restored to four star rank on the retired list in 2010 but the nomination also expired in the Senate without action 118 And Rear Admiral Cristina V Beato was nominated to be assistant secretary for health in 2003 but her nomination also was not placed on the Senate schedule for a vote 119 Had Beato been confirmed and assumed office she would have been the first woman in any uniformed service to achieve four star grade instead that honor went to General Ann E Dunwoody Additionally events that take place after confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate For example Admiral William F Moran was confirmed in May 2019 to be the chief of naval operations 120 but abruptly retired 121 due to an investigation into his correspondence with a former subordinate accused of sexual harassment 122 and usage of his personal email for military purposes 123 Consequently Vice Admiral Michael M Gilday was nominated for promotion to admiral and appointment as CNO 124 for which he was confirmed and assumed office in August 2019 125 Command elevation and reduction Edit nbsp Adm Charles D Michel Coast Guard vice commandant is pinned with his new rank by his wife Claudia on 1 June 2016 nbsp Gen Frank J Grass is sworn in as chief of the National Guard Bureau by Defense Secretary Leon E Panetta on 17 September 2012 Any billet in the armed forces may be designated as a position of importance requiring the holder of the position to be of three star or four star rank 105 One star and two star billets may be elevated to three star or four star level as appropriate either by act of Congress or within statutory limits by the services at their discretion Congress may propose such elevations or reductions to the President and U S Department of Defense 126 Due to the limited number of four star slots available significant changes occur on average every four to five years The existing commander of a lower level command or office elevated to four star rank can be appointed to grade in their present position reassigned to another office of equal grade or face retirement if another nominee is selected as their relief For example Lieutenant General Christopher G Cavoli commanding general of U S Army Europe was nominated for promotion to general in 2020 127 in concert with the consolidation of his command and U S Army Africa into U S Army Europe and Africa He was promoted on 1 October 2020 128 and assumed command of the consolidated USAREUR AF on 20 November 2020 129 Lieutenant General Francis J Wiercinski could have been nominated for promotion to general as U S Army Pacific transitioned to a four star command since as of May 2013 he had more than 200 days remaining on his customary three year tour Lieutenant General Vincent K Brooks was instead nominated for promotion 130 and Wiercinski retired on 4 June 2013 131 A lower level billet may be elevated to four star grade in accordance to being designated as a position of importance to highlight importance to the defense apparatus as a whole or achieve parity with equivalent commands in the same area of responsibility or service branch For example the statutory rank of the vice commandant of the Coast Guard was raised to admiral by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 to align the leadership structure of the Coast Guard to that of the other armed services 132 and recognize the important role of the vice commandant at the national level 132 The incumbent vice commandant Vice Admiral Charles D Michel was confirmed for promotion to admiral 133 and assumed the rank on 1 June 2016 134 The statutory rank of the chief of the National Guard Bureau was raised to general by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 with significant congressional support 135 Lieutenant General Craig R McKinley then director of the Air National Guard was confirmed for promotion to general 136 and assumed the rank and accompanying office on 17 November 2008 137 Tour length Edit nbsp Gen Alexander Haig is presented the Distinguished Service Medal by President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office on 4 January 1973 The standard tour length for most four star positions is three years bundled as a two year term plus a one year extension with the following exceptions The chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serve for a nominal four year term 138 139 Service chiefs of staff serve a nominal four year term 86 92 90 87 94 95 The chief of the National Guard Bureau serves a nominal four year term 102 The director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion serves for a nominal eight year term 140 All appointees serve at the pleasure of the president Extensions of the standard tour length can be approved within statutory limits by their respective service secretaries the secretary of defense the president and or Congress but these are rare as they block other officers from being promoted Some statutory limits of tour length under the U S Code can be waived in times of national emergency or war 138 139 Four star ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare Retirement Edit nbsp Gen David C Jones with Vice President George H W Bush and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger during Jones retirement ceremony on 18 June 1982 nbsp Secretary of Defense Robert M Gates presents Gen Peter Pace with his certificate of retirement his wife Lynne looks on 1 October 2007 Other than voluntary retirement statute sets a number of mandates for retirement Regular four star officers must retire after 40 years of active commissioned service unless reappointed to grade to serve longer 141 Reserve four star officers must retire after five years in grade or 40 years of commissioned service whichever is later unless reappointed to grade to serve longer 142 Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday 143 However the secretary of defense can defer a four star officer s retirement until the officer s 66th birthday 143 and the president can defer it until the officer s 68th birthday 143 Officers that served several years in the enlisted ranks prior to receiving their commission typically don t make it to the 40 years of commissioned service mark because they are still subject to the age restrictions for retirement For example Admiral Michael G Mullen was born on 4 October 1946 placed on active duty in 1968 and promoted to admiral on 23 August 2003 Ordinarily he would have been expected to retire at the end of his four year term as chief of naval operations in 2008 after 40 years of service Instead he was reappointed as an admiral and appointed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 October 2007 He retired from the Navy after serving two two year terms as chairman on 1 October 2011 at the age of 65 with 43 years of service and eight years in grade General James F Amos was born on 12 November 1946 placed on active duty in 1970 and promoted to general on 3 July 2008 Ordinarily he would have been expected to retire at the end of his two year term as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps in 2010 after 40 years of service Instead he was reappointed as a general and appointed as commandant of the Marine Corps on 22 October 2010 He retired from the Marine Corps after completing his four year term as commandant on 17 October 2014 at the age of 67 with 44 years of service and six years in grade General Frank J Grass was born on 19 May 1951 enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in October 1969 and received his commission in 1981 He was appointed as a general in the active duty reserves and assigned as chief of the National Guard Bureau on 7 September 2012 He remained on reserve active duty until he completed his four year term as chief and retired from the Army on 3 August 2016 at 65 years of age with 35 years in commissioned service 47 years of total service and four years in grade nbsp Gen John P Jumper is presented the Defense Distinguished Service Medal by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during Jumper s retirement ceremony on 2 September 2005 nbsp Outgoing Chief of Naval Operations Adm Vern Clark delivers his final remarks during his retirement ceremony at the U S Naval Academy on 22 July 2005 Senior officers typically retire well in advance of the statutory age and service limits so as not to impede the upward career mobility of their juniors Since there are a finite number of four star slots available to each service typically one officer must leave office before another can be promoted 144 Maintaining a four star rank is like a game of musical chairs once an officer vacates a position bearing that rank he or she has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal or greater importance before he or she is expected to retire 105 Historically officers leaving four star positions were allowed to revert to their permanent two star ranks to mark time in lesser jobs until statutory retirement but now such officers are expected to retire immediately to avoid obstructing the promotion flow For example Vice Admiral Patrick M Walsh was promoted to admiral and appointed as vice chief of naval operations in 2007 The incumbent vice chief Admiral Robert F Willard was appointed as commander of the U S Pacific Fleet The incumbent Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Gary Roughead was appointed as commander of U S Fleet Forces Command whose incumbent commander Admiral John B Nathman received no further appointment and retired at the age of 59 with 37 years of service and three years in grade Lieutenant General Gary L North was promoted to general and appointed as commander of Pacific Air Forces in 2009 The incumbent Pacific Air Forces commander General Carrol Chandler was appointed as vice chief of staff of the Air Force while the incumbent vice chief General William M Fraser III was appointed as commander of Air Combat Command whose incumbent commander General John D W Corley received no further appointment and retired at the age of 58 with 36 years of service and four years in grade nbsp Annie McChrystal and her husband Gen Stanley A McChrystal smile during his retirement ceremony in Washington D C on 23 July 2010 To retire at four star grade an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active duty service in that grade as determined by the secretary of defense 145 The president and Congress must also receive certification by the secretary of defense that the retiree served satisfactorily in grade 145 The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years and the president may waive this requirement altogether but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct 145 146 Four star officers who do not meet the service in grade requirement will revert to the next highest grade in which they served satisfactorily for at least six months which is normally the three star grade 145 Since three star ranks are also temporary if the retiree is also not certified by the secretary of defense or the president to retire as a three star the retiree will retire at the last permanent rank he or she satisfactorily held for six months 145 The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade i It is rare for a four star officer not to be certified to retire in grade or for the Senate to seek final approval For example when removed from office after less than the statutory time in grade Generals Frederick F Woerner 147 and Stanley A McChrystal 148 were retired as full generals as certified by the President and were not subjected to senatorial confirmation Admirals Husband E Kimmel and Richard C Macke were not certified to retire at three star or four star rank and retired as two star rear admirals 149 General Kevin P Byrnes had over two years in grade but was being investigated for misconduct and retired as a lieutenant general 150 In 1972 General John D Lavelle was relieved for misconduct and certified to retire as a lieutenant general but was rejected by a Senate Armed Services Committee vote of 14 to 2 and retired as a major general in 2010 he was nominated posthumously for advancement to general on the retired list based on newly declassified evidence 151 however as stated above the Senate did not vote on the nomination and let it expire at the end of the Congressional session 118 General Michael J Dugan retired as a full general as certified by the President but only after receiving approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee 152 After achieving the statutory time in grade Admirals Frank B Kelso II and Henry H Mauz Jr were retired as full admirals but only after going through a full senatorial confirmation vote of 54 to 43 153 and 92 to 6 154 respectively Four star officers who are under investigation for misconduct typically are not allowed to retire until the investigation completes so that the Secretary of Defense can decide whether to certify that their performance was satisfactory enough to retire in their highest grade 145 155 For example an investigation by the Department of Defense comptroller held Generals Roger A Brady and Stephen R Lorenz in their four star commands for up to 13 months beyond their originally scheduled retirements 156 General William E Ward relinquished his four star command as scheduled but remained on active duty in his permanent grade of major general pending an investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general 155 before being allowed to retire as a lieutenant general over a year after his original scheduled retirement 157 Admiral Samuel J Locklear was held in his four star command for months beyond his original scheduled retirement by the Navy s Consolidated Disposition Authority while under investigation for the Fat Leonard corruption scandal before being cleared of any wrongdoing 158 nbsp Gen David Petraeus reviews troops at his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall Virginia 31 August 2011 Furthermore retired four star officers may still be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and disciplinary action including reduction in retirement rank by the secretary of defense or the president if they are deemed to have served unsatisfactorily in rank post retirement 159 General David H Petraeus who had retired from the Army as a four star general on 31 August 2011 faced punitive action from the secretary of defense over four years past his retirement date for mishandling classified materials while serving as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U S Forces Afghanistan 160 He was allowed to retain his four star rank in retirement with the recommendation of the secretary of the Army 159 and strong support from ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee 161 General Arthur Lichte who had retired from the Air Force as a four star general on 1 January 2010 received a letter of reprimand from the secretary of the Air Force for sexually assaulting a subordinate female officer on multiple occasions over six years after his retirement date 162 The secretary of defense withdrew Lichte s certification of satisfactory service 163 and reduced his retirement rank to major general 163 which the Air Force determined was his last permanent rank he served in satisfactorily 163 Lichte could have faced charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice however since the allegations were not reported or investigated until over five years past when they occurred the statute of limitations bars having charges being brought up for prosecution 162 nbsp Adm William J Crowe Jr shares a lighter moment with guests attending his retirement ceremony on 29 September 1989 Four star officers typically step down from their posts up to 60 days in advance of their official retirement dates Officers retire on the first day of the month so once a retirement month has been selected the relief and retirement ceremonies are scheduled by counting backwards from that date by the number of days of accumulated leave remaining to the retiring officer During this period termed transition leave or terminal leave the officer is considered to be awaiting retirement but still on active duty For example General Michael Hagee was relieved as commandant of the Marine Corps on 13 November 2006 and held his retirement ceremony the same day but remained on active duty until his official retirement date on 1 January 2007 A statutory limit can be waived by the president with the consent of Congress if it serves national interest However this is extremely rare For example the record for the longest tenure in any service is held by General Lewis B Hershey who enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard in 1911 at the age of 18 He was called up for federal active duty during World War I receiving a commission in 1916 and subsequently transferred to the regular army at the end of the war He served in active duty in the Army until the age of 80 before being involuntarily retired in 1973 after 62 years of continuous service Admiral Hyman G Rickover is listed as serving for 63 years in the Navy from 1918 to 1982 However his service reflects a time when attending any military academy was considered active duty service due in part from World War I In today s military rules and regulations an officer who initially begins their career through a military academy does not begin their service until upon receiving their commission after graduation even though they are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice while attending the academy See also EditList of United States military leaders by rank List of United States Army four star generals List of United States Marine Corps four star generals List of United States Navy four star admirals List of United States Air Force four star generals List of United States Space Force four star generals List of United States Coast Guard four star admirals List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four star admirals List of active duty United States three star officers List of active duty United States Army major generals List of active duty United States Marine Corps major generals List of active duty United States rear admirals List of active duty United States Air Force major generals List of active duty United States Space Force general officers List of current United States National Guard major generals List of active duty United States senior enlisted leaders and advisors Staff military Notes Edit Historically the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program is held by an officer in the Navy however 50 U S C 2511 Executive Order No 12344 states a civilian can be appointed to that position without joining or being a serving member of the Navy By statute 50 U S C 2406 any person serving as Director Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program also concurrently serves as the National Nuclear Security Administration s Deputy Administrator Naval Reactors a b c Nomination for reappointment to four star grade currently or to be included in Senate hold The position of Assistant Secretary of Health has historically been held by either a civilian or an officer in the U S Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Dividing the total number of general and flag officers above two stars 148 from the total number of general and flag officers overall 620 is 23 87 The U S Code does not provide for a statutory grade for the vice chief of space operations a four star Space Force general Department of Defense nominees are considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee Coast Guard nominees are considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce Science and Transportation and the director of the National Security Agency is considered by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence This refers to the chiefs of staff of the Army and Air Force commandant of the Marine Corps chief of naval operations chief of space operations and the commandant of the Coast Guard The U S Constitution gives Congress oversight over retirement of military personnel if they so choose References Edit Webcast Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of General Mark A Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in Honor of General Charles Q Brown Jr DVIDS Retrieved 29 September 2023 Adm Christopher W Grady Joint Chiefs of Staff Retrieved 13 December 2022 Gen Michael Langley U S Marine Corps United States Africa Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander General Michael E Kurilla U S Central Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander USCYBERCOM U S Cyber Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Paul M Nakasone National Security Agency Central Security Service Retrieved 15 December 2022 Volz Dustin 11 May 2023 NSA Chief Paul Nakasone Has Said He Expects to Step Down in Coming Months The Wall Street Journal Retrieved 12 May 2023 Gen Christopher G Cavoli U S Army U S European Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander U S Indo Pacific Command U S Indo Pacific Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 GENERAL GLEN D VANHERCK USAF U S Northern Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 GENERAL GLEN D VANHERCK USAF North American Aerospace Defense Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 a b 20230308 STR Hearing FY24 Strategic Forces Posture Youtube livestream Rayburn House Office Building U S House Committee on Armed Services 9 March 2023 Gen Laura J Richardson U S Southern Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 GEN JAMES H DICKINSON U S Space Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander USSOCOM General Bryan P Fenton USSOCOM Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander U S Strategic Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 USTRANSCOM Leadership USTRANSCOM Retrieved 13 December 2022 Chief National Guard Bureau National Guard Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander United Nations Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander UNC CFC USFK United States Forces Korea Retrieved 13 December 2022 Sword Michael 21 September 2023 Army Gen Randy George sworn in as 41st Army Chief of Staff DVIDS Alaska 11th Airborne Division Retrieved 22 September 2023 General Andrew P Poppas U S Army Forces Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Meet Our Leadership Army Futures Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 AMC Leadership Army Materiel Command Retrieved 16 March 2023 Leaders U S Army Training and Doctrine Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Army University Leadership Army University Retrieved 13 December 2022 U S Army Europe and Africa Command Biography U S Army Europe and Africa Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander Allied Land Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Gen Charles A Flynn U S Army Pacific Retrieved 13 December 2022 Loewenson Irene 23 September 2023 Top Marine leader sworn in 1 day after Senate confirmation Marine Corps Times Retrieved 23 September 2023 Admiral Lisa Franchetti United States Navy Retrieved 13 December 2022 Ziezulewicz Geoff 22 August 2023 While awaiting confirmation acting CNO urges fleet to stay the course Navy Times Retrieved 19 September 2023 Admiral James Frank Caldwell Jr National Nuclear Security Administration Retrieved 13 December 2022 LaGrone Sam 4 May 2023 U S Sub Force Commander Houston Nominated For Naval Reactors Director USNI News Retrieved 9 June 2023 ADM DARYL CAUDLE U S Fleet Forces Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander Joint Force Maritime Component Commander JFMCC U S Strategic Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 Adm Stuart B Munsch U S Naval Forces Europe and Africa U S Sixth Fleet Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples Retrieved 13 December 2022 Admiral Samuel J Paparo U S Pacific Fleet Retrieved 13 December 2022 General David W Allvin United States Air Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 General Mark D Kelly United States Air Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 Hadley Greg 15 August 2023 LOOK How the Nominations Freeze Affects the Highest Levels of USAF USSF Leadership Air amp Space Forces Magazine Retrieved 9 September 2023 General Thomas A Bussiere Air Force Global Strike Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 General Duke Z Richardson Air Force Materiel Command Retrieved 13 December 2022 General Mike Minihan United States Air Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 General Kenneth S Wilsbach United States Air Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 General James B Hecker United States Air Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 General B Chance Saltzman United States Space Force Retrieved 13 December 2022 Commandant of the Coast Guard United States Coast Guard Retrieved 13 December 2022 Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard United States Coast Guard Retrieved 13 December 2022 Admiral Rachel L Levine Commissioned Corps of the U S Public Health Service Retrieved 13 December 2022 a b c Britzky Haley Liptak Kevin 23 May 2023 Biden picks Air Force general to lead NSA and Cyber Command CNN Politics CNN Retrieved 24 May 2023 Seligman Lara Miller Maggie 23 May 2023 Biden nominates Lt Gen Timothy Haugh to lead NSA Cyber Command Politico Retrieved 24 May 2023 PN678 Lt Gen Timothy D Haugh Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 30 May 2023 Retrieved 31 May 2023 a b General Officer Announcements U S Department of Defense 31 May 2023 Retrieved 1 June 2023 a b c Austin III Lloyd J 21 July 2023 Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III on President Biden s Nominations U S Department of Defense Retrieved 21 July 2023 PN885 Adm Samuel J Paparo Jr Navy 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 25 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 a b c d Flag Officer Announcements U S Department of Defense 27 July 2023 Retrieved 28 July 2023 PN679 Lt Gen Gregory M Guillot Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 30 May 2023 Retrieved 31 May 2023 a b Webcast Senate Hears Combatant Command Nominations DVIDS Retrieved 26 July 2023 PN827 Lt Gen Stephen N Whiting Space Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 11 July 2023 Retrieved 12 July 2023 a b Hitchens Theresa 12 July 2023 Biden nominates Space Force s Whiting to head SPACECOM Breaking Defense Retrieved 13 July 2023 PN819 Lt Gen James J Mingus Army 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 11 July 2023 Retrieved 12 July 2023 PN881 Lt Gen Christopher J Mahoney Marine Corps 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 26 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 General Officer Announcement U S Department of Defense 14 August 2023 Retrieved 14 August 2023 PN882 Adm Lisa M Franchetti Navy 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 25 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 Nomination Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Admiral Lisa M Franchetti for Reappointment to the Grade of Admiral and to be Chief of Naval Operations U S Senate Committee on Armed Services Retrieved 13 September 2023 PN884 Vice Adm James W Kilby Navy 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 25 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 PN583 Vice Adm William J Houston Navy 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 2 May 2023 Retrieved 2 May 2023 Flag Officer Announcement U S Department of Defense 3 May 2023 Retrieved 4 May 2023 PN883 Vice Adm Stephen T Koehler Navy 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 25 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 PN877 Gen David W Allvin Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 26 July 2023 Retrieved 26 July 2023 General Officer Announcement U S Department of Defense 27 July 2023 Retrieved 28 July 2023 Nomination Hearing to Consider the Nomination of General David W Allvin for Reappointment to the Grade of General and to be Chief of Staff of the Air Force U S Senate Committee on Armed Services Retrieved 13 September 2023 PN933 Lt Gen James C Slife Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 5 September 2023 Retrieved 6 September 2023 General Officer Announcements U S Department of Defense 6 September 2023 Retrieved 7 September 2023 PN579 Gen Kenneth S Wilsbach Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 2 May 2023 Retrieved 3 May 2023 General Officer Announcements U S Department of Defense 4 May 2023 Retrieved 5 May 2023 PN535 Lt Gen Kevin B Schneider Air Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 20 April 2023 Retrieved 21 April 2023 General Officer Announcements U S Department of Defense 24 April 2023 Retrieved 25 April 2023 PN826 Lt Gen Michael A Guetlein Space Force 118th Congress 2023 2024 U S Congress 11 July 2023 Retrieved 12 July 2023 10 U S C 526a Authorized strength after December 31 2022 general officers and flag officers on active duty a b c d e f g 10 U S C 525 Distribution of commissioned officers on active duty in general officer and flag officer grades DeFrazio Peter A 23 December 2022 H R 7776 James M Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 Congress gov Retrieved 23 December 2022 14 U S C 301 Grades and ratings a b 10 U S C 7033 Chief of 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chief Ward still on active duty pending probe Stars and Stripes Stuttgart Germany Archived from the original on 6 September 2020 Retrieved 14 March 2021 Church Aaron M U 1 February 2011 Air Force World Everyone Is Accountable Air amp Space Forces Magazine Retrieved 22 February 2023 Miles Donna 14 November 2012 Panetta Ward Ruling Recognizes High Standard for Leaders American Forces Press Service via Defense gov archived from the original on 28 July 2022 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Cavas Christopher P 29 March 2015 PACOM Chief Locklear To Be Cleared in Fat Leonard Probe Defense News Retrieved 30 May 2015 a b Goldman Adam Whitlock Craig 7 December 2015 Army recommends no further punishment for Petraeus The Washington Post Archived from the original on 2 February 2016 Retrieved 26 January 2016 Goldman Adam 25 January 2016 How David Petraeus avoided felony charges and possible prison time The Washington Post Archived from the original on 22 May 2022 Retrieved 26 January 2016 Goldman Adam Whitlock Craig 30 January 2016 Pentagon won t punish David Petraeus any further in sex and secrets scandal The Washington Post Archived from the original on 22 May 2022 Retrieved 5 February 2016 a b Pawlyk Oriana 1 February 2017 Retired General Demoted 2 Ranks After Sexual Assault Investigation Military com Archived from the original on 24 May 2021 Retrieved 1 February 2017 a b c Vanden Brook Tom 1 February 2017 Air Force busts retired four star general down two ranks for coerced sex USA Today Archived from the original on 15 August 2021 Retrieved 1 February 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of active duty United States four star officers amp oldid 1178832999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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