DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
The Navy's World War II-era Fleet Admirals
By act of Congress approved 14 December 1944, the grade of Fleet
Admiral, United States Navy, was established for certain officers on the
active list of the Navy. Four officers were nominated by the president for
that grade. With the advice and consent of the Congress, they were appointed
by him and served in that grade until they died. For years, the Navy had
the rank of 4-star Admiral. Now for the first time, the service had 5-star
Fleet Admirals.
It is interesting to note that each of these officers followed a differently
patterned naval career. Only eight years of seniority separated them. They
served as younger officers when the Navy was making its expansion in aviation
and submarine development. One of these officers was essentially a destroyer
officer and aviator with only one short tour ashore in Washington. One was
a submariner with European training in diesel propulsion, a big ship sailor
with shore cruises in Washington including Chief of Naval Personnel. One
had almost all his sea duty in big ships and with the exception of one tour,
all shore duty in Washington, including being chief of two bureaus. Only
one had a seagoing career in the surface, submarine and aviation branches
of the service with shore tours including the head of the Postgraduate School
and the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.
Three served as Chiefs of Naval Operations.
The Navy's Fleet Admirals were:
(This information is extracted from the Naval
Historical Foundation's booklet Fleet Admirals, U.S. Navy.)
1 June 1996