<P> This is a complete list of four - star admirals in the United States Navy . The rank of admiral (or full admiral, or four - star admiral) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Navy . It ranks above vice admiral (three - star admiral) and below fleet admiral (five - star admiral). </P> <P> There have been 263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy . Of these, 222 achieved that rank while on active duty, 40 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations, and one was promoted posthumously . Admirals entered the Navy via several paths: 232 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), 17 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC), 8 via Officer Candidate School (OCS), 2 via warrant, 1 via the Naval Aviation Cadet (NAVCAD) Program, 2 via Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) and 1 via the U.S. Merchant Marine . </P>

Who is the highest ranking officer in the navy