<P> The only case where historical seniority has been legally established by the United States Congress are for the two "super ranks" of the armed forces of the United States, these being the ranks General of the Armies and Admiral of the Navy . By clear precedent, the holders of these two ranks (three persons in all) are senior to all other officers of the United States military, past and present . By special Congressional edict, George Washington is considered the senior most officer of all time meaning he may never be lesser in seniority to any other military officer, although Washington technically shares the same rank with John Pershing . </P> <P> The office of general was discontinued after the Civil War, but revived in 1919 by the title of "General of the Armies of the United States" when General John J. Pershing was appointed to that office on 3 September 1919; accepted the appointment on 8 September 1919, was retired with that rank on 13 September 1924, and held it until his death on 15 July 1948 . No other officer has occupied this office on active duty . General Pershing held the grade of General of the Armies of the United States under the provisions of the Act of U.S. Congress of 3 September 1919 (Public Law 45). Washington was posthumously appointed General of the Armies of the United States under s: Public Law 94 - 479 . Under s: Order 31 - 3, the effective promotion date was on 4 July 1976 . Congress specified that no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list . While promoted to a lieutenant general only a year before his death, he was the most senior officer and the only lieutenant general in the army . The same is true of Ulysses S. Grant, who was the second person to permanently hold this rank . (Winfield Scott was a brevet lieutenant general for his service in the Mexican--American War .) Washington was referred to as "commander in chief" of the Continental Army, a title that since the adoption of the Constitution has been reserved for the (civilian) President . </P> <P> The five star officers of World War II are technically considered the most senior officers in U.S. history (with the exception of the two "super ranks" previously mentioned), yet are often considered historically junior to the military leaders of the 19th century, especially the inaugural holders of senior military ranks . Most historical seniority lists also omit three star officers, with some rare exceptions (such as Winfield Scott), and typically avoid comparing two star ranks and below, which are permanent ranks held by hundreds of officers over the past two centuries . In these cases, standard methods of seniority are utilized . Since 1981, the highest rank held by any officer in the U.S. armed forces is four stars, or a pay grade of "O - 10". Modern - day admirals and generals are typically not considered in lists of historical seniority, except for extreme cases such as leaders of wars or other wide scale armed conflicts . </P> <P> The officers listed below are generally accepted in military history circles as the top twenty five officers of all time in United States military history </P>

What is the highest rank in the army