There are currently 160 active-duty three-star officers in federal uniformed service, of which 159 three-star officers are part of the eight federal uniformed services of the United States. There are 53 in the Army, 17 in the Marine Corps, 37 in the Navy, 40 in the Air Force, five in the Space Force, four in the Coast Guard, one in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and one in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The final three-star officer comes from the Maritime Service, which is a federal uniformed organization that is not recognized as part of the of federal uniformed services.
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Joint Staff | ||||
Director of the Joint Staff (DJS) | Lieutenant General Douglas A. Sims II [10] | U.S. Army | ||
Joint Staff directorates | ||||
Director for Intelligence (J-2), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Dimitri Henry [11] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich [12] | U.S. Air Force | ||
Director for Logistics (J-4), Joint Staff | Vice Admiral Dion D. English [13] | U.S. Navy | ||
Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff and Senior Member, United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee | Lieutenant General Joseph P. McGee [14] | U.S. Army | ||
Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers and Cyber and Chief Information Officer (J-6), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General David T. Isaacson [15] | U.S. Army | ||
Director for Joint Force Development (J-7), Joint Staff | Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson [16] | U.S. Air Force | ||
Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J-8), Joint Staff | Vice Admiral Sara A. Joyner [17] | U.S. Navy |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Secretary | ||||
Director of Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisition, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) | Lieutenant General Robert A. Rasch Jr. [41] | U.S. Army | ||
Military Deputy for Budget to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) | Lieutenant General Paul A. Chamberlain [42] | U.S. Army | ||
Inspector General of the United States Army (IG) | Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin [43] | U.S. Army |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Secretary | ||||
Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | Vice Admiral Scott W. Pappano [88] | U.S. Navy | ||
Naval Inspector General (NAVIG) and Special Assistant for Inspection Support (N09G) | Vice Admiral John V. Fuller [89] | U.S. Navy | ||
Judge Advocate General of the Navy (JAG), Special Assistant for Legal Services (N09J) and Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA) | Vice Admiral Christopher C. French [90] | U.S. Navy |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Headquarters Marine Corps | ||||
Director of the Marine Corps Staff (DMCS) | Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock Jr. [91] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA) | Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte [92] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (DC, PP&O) | Lieutenant General James W. Bierman Jr. [93] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) | Lieutenant General Bradford J. Gering [94] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (DC I&L) | Lieutenant General Stephen D. Sklenka [95] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I) and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) | Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin [96] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (DC P&R) | Lieutenant General James H. Adams III [97] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Deputy Commandant for Information (DCI), Director, Marine Corps Intelligence (MCI) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command (MARFORSTRAT) | Lieutenant General Melvin G. Carter [98] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Supporting establishment | ||||
Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM) | Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson [99] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Operating forces | ||||
Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM), Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH) and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) | Lieutenant General Roberta L. Shea [100] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) | Lieutenant General Calvert L. Worth Jr. [101] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC) | Lieutenant General James F. Glynn [102] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (MARFORJ) and Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) | Lieutenant General Roger B. Turner Jr. [103] [104] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) | Lieutenant General Michael S. Cederholm [105] | U.S. Marine Corps | ||
Marine Forces Reserve | ||||
Commander, Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH) | Lieutenant General Leonard F. Anderson IV [106] | U.S. Marine Corps |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations | ||||
Director of the Navy Staff (DNS/N09B) | Vice Admiral Michael E. Boyle [107] [108] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (N1/NT) and Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) | Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman Jr. [109] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (N2/N6) and Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI) | Vice Admiral Karl O. Thomas [110] [111] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (N3/N5/N7) | Vice Admiral Daniel W. Dwyer [112] [108] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Installations and Logistics (N4) | Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Jablon [113] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources (N8) | Vice Admiral John B. Skillman [114] [115] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N9) | Vice Admiral James E. Pitts [116] [115] | U.S. Navy | ||
Chief of Navy Reserve (N095) and Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) | Vice Admiral Nancy S. Lacore [117] | U.S. Navy | ||
Type commands | ||||
Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC) | Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cheever [111] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) | Vice Admiral Michael J. Vernazza [118] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR), Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC), Commander, Task Force 114 (CTF-114), [119] Commander, Task Force 88 (CTF-88) and Commander, Task Force 46 (CTF-46) | Vice Admiral Robert M. Gaucher [120] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR) and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC) | Vice Admiral Brendan R. McLane [121] [122] | U.S. Navy | ||
Operating forces (and subordinated units) | ||||
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 John E. Gumbleton [123] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), Commander, Joint Force Command – Norfolk (JFC-NF) and Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence (CJOS COE) | Vice Admiral Douglas G. Perry [124] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (C6F), Commander, Task Force Six, Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (COMSTRIKFORNATO), Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe | Vice Admiral Thomas E. Ishee [125] | U.S. Navy | ||
Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) | Vice Admiral Blake L. Converse [126] [127] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F) | Vice Admiral John F.G. Wade [128] [129] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (C7F) | Vice Admiral Frederick W. Kacher [130] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet (C5F) and Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) | Vice Admiral George M. Wikoff [131] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC), Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet (C10F), Commander, U.S. Navy Space Command (NAVSPACECOM) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters - U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (JFHQ-FCC) | Vice Admiral Craig A. Clapperton [132] | U.S. Navy | ||
Shore establishment | ||||
Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) | Vice Admiral James P. Downey [133] [134] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) | Vice Admiral Carl P. Chebi [135] | U.S. Navy | ||
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) | Vice Admiral Christopher S. Gray [136] | U.S. Navy | ||
Director for Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) | Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr. [137] | U.S. Navy | ||
Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) | Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids [138] | U.S. Navy |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Secretary | ||||
Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SAF/AQ) | Lieutenant General Dale R. White [139] | U.S. Air Force | ||
Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force (DAF/IG) | Lieutenant General Stephen L. Davis [140] | U.S. Air Force |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Space Staff | ||||
Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear (S3/4/6/7/10) | Lieutenant General DeAnna M. Burt [171] | U.S. Space Force | ||
Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis (S5/8) | Lieutenant General Shawn N. Bratton [172] | U.S. Space Force | ||
Field commands | ||||
Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC) | Lieutenant General David N. Miller Jr. [173] | U.S. Space Force | ||
Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC) | Lieutenant General Philip A. Garrant [174] | U.S. Space Force | ||
Commander, U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, U.S. Space Command | Lieutenant General Douglas A. Schiess [175] | U.S. Space Force |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Headquarters support units | ||||
Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO) | Vice Admiral Peter W. Gautier [176] | U.S. Coast Guard | ||
Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) | Vice Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr. [177] | U.S. Coast Guard | ||
Area commands | ||||
Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area (USCGLANTAREA) and Director, Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Force – East (JTF-E) | Vice Admiral Nathan A. Moore [178] | U.S. Coast Guard | ||
Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area (PACAREA) and Commander, Defense Force West | Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson [179] | U.S. Coast Guard |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Surgeon General | ||||
Surgeon General of the United States (SG) | Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy [180] | U.S. Public Health Service |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere | ||||
Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DUSO) | Vice Admiral Nancy A. Hann [181] [182] | NOAA Commissioned Corps |
Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Superintendent | ||||
Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) | Vice Admiral Joanna M. Nunan [183] | U.S. Maritime Service |
Current position | Designated position insignia | Designated position | Photo | Name | Service branch | Status and date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joint assignments | ||||||
Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force | Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (SMA SecDef) | Major General Jennifer M. Short | U.S. Air Force | Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2024 [184] [185] | ||
In transit | Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DoDIN) | Major General Paul T. Stanton | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [186] [187] | ||
In transit | Deputy Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) | Major General Joshua M. Rudd | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 8 July 2024 [188] [189] | ||
In transit | Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) | Major General Evan L. Pettus | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [190] [191] | ||
In transit | Commander, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and Commander, Fifth Air Force (5 AF) | Major General Stephen F. Jost | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 2 May 2024 [192] [193] | ||
In transit | President, National Defense University (NDU) | Rear Admiral Peter A. Garvin | U.S. Navy | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [194] [195] | ||
Vice Director of the Joint Staff (VDJS) | Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | Major General Michael L. Downs | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [196] [191] | ||
Special Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and Commander, Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) | Commander, Allied Special Operations Forces Command (SOFCOM) and Commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) | Major General Richard E. Angle | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 9 September 2024 [197] [198] | ||
United States Army | ||||||
Special Assistant to the Director of the Army Staff (DAS) | Inspector General of the United States Army (IG) | Major General Gregory J. Brady | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 23 July 2024 [199] [191] | ||
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G-3/5/7) | Major General Joseph A. Ryan | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [200] [189] Date of rank 4 November 2024 [201] | ||
Director of Architecture, Operations, Networks and Space, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber Operations and Networks (G-6) | Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber Operations and Networks (G-6) | Major General Jeth B. Rey | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 4 June 2024 [202] [203] | ||
Special Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) | Deputy Commanding General for Combat Development, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) | Major General Edmond M. Brown | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [204] [191] Date of rank 4 November 2024 [205] | ||
Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Operations (G-3/4), U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) | Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) | Major General Gavin A. Lawrence | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 23 July 2024 [206] [191] | ||
Commanding General, U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) and Commanding General, Fort Knox | Commanding General, U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) and Commanding General, Fort Knox | Major General Johnny K. Davis | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 9 September 2024 [207] [198] | ||
In transit | Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) | Major General Joel B. Vowell | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [208] [191] Date of rank 2 October 2024 [209] | ||
Special Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) | Commanding General, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) and Senior Commander, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis | Major General Allan M. Pepin | U.S. Army | Nomination sent to the Senate 9 September 2024 [210] [198] | ||
Deputy Commanding General, I Corps | Commanding General, I Corps and Commanding General, Joint Base Lewis-McChord | Major General Matthew W. McFarlane | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [211] [187] | ||
Special Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) | Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Commanding General, Fort Liberty | Major General Gregory K. Anderson | U.S. Army | Confirmed by the Senate 23 May 2024 [212] [213] | ||
United States Navy | ||||||
In transit | Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (C6F), Commander, Task Force Six, Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (COMSTRIKFORNATO), Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA) and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe | Rear Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson | U.S. Navy | Confirmed by the Senate 18 June 2024 [214] [215] | ||
United States Air Force | ||||||
Acting Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau (VCNGB) and Special Assistant to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) | Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern/AFNORTH and Air Forces Space/AFSPACE) (1 AF), Commander, Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR), Combined Force Air Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command and Joint Force Air Component Commander for U.S. Northern Command | Major General M. Luke Ahmann | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [216] [191] | ||
Deputy Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) | Deputy Commander, Air Mobility Command (AMC) | Major General Rebecca J. Sonkiss | U.S. Air Force | Confirmed by the Senate 31 July 2024 [217] [191] | ||
Acting Director, Air National Guard (ANG) and Deputy Director, Air National Guard | Director, Air National Guard (ANG) | Major General Duke A. Pirak | U.S. Air Force | Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 30 July 2024 [218] [219] | ||
As with four-star officers, the U.S. Code explicitly limits the number of three-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 219 for the Army, 150 for the Navy, 171 for the Air Force, 64 for the Marine Corps, and 21 for the Space Force. [220] Statute also sets the total number of three-star officers allowed in these services, [221] which equates to about 23% of each service's total active-duty general or flag officer pool. [lower-alpha 5] The number is set at 46 three-star Army generals, [221] 17 three-star Marine Corps generals, [221] 34 three-star Navy admirals, [221] 44 three-star Air Force generals, [221] seven three-star Space Force generals, [221] and five three-star Coast Guard admirals. [222]
While a number of these positions are set by statute, most do not have the accompanying statutory three-star rank. By convention, however:
The president may also designate positions of importance and responsibility to other agencies in the executive branch aside from the Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to be held by an officer with the rank of vice admiral, with corresponding pay and allowance. [222]
Exceptions exist that allow for the appointment of three-star officers beyond statutory limits. The secretary of defense can designate up to 68 three-star officers, [245] who do not count against any service's general or flag officer limit, [245] to serve in one of several joint positions. [246] For three-star officers, these include senior positions on the Joint Staff such as the director of the Joint Staff and deputy commanders of unified combatant commands. [247] Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limits, including the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, [248] associate director for military affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency, [248] and the advisor for military affairs to the director of National Intelligence. [246] [248] The president can appoint additional three-star officers in any one service, in excess of that service's three-star limit, as long as they are offset by reducing an equivalent number of three-stars from other services. [221] Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the president's discretion during time of war or national emergency. [249]
Like with four-stars, three-star grade of ranks are temporary in nature; officers may only achieve three stars if they are appointed to positions that require or allow the officer to hold the rank. [250] Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is normally set by statute. [250] The president nominates three-star officers from any eligible officers holding one-star rank and above who also meet the other requirements for the position, based on the advice of their respective executive department secretary, service secretary, and if applicable the Joint Chiefs. [250] The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank. [250] [lower-alpha 6]
While it is rare for nominations to face even token opposition in the Senate, nominations that do face opposition due to controversy surrounding the nominee in question are typically withdrawn. [252]
Nominations that are not withdrawn are allowed to expire without action at the end of the legislative session, with said nominations being returned to the President. [252] [272]
Additionally, events that occur after Senate confirmation may delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office, necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate.
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. [250] 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 Department of Defense. [286]
An officer leading a command or office elevated to three-star rank can be promoted while in their present position, reassigned to another office of equal rank, or retire if another nominee is selected as their replacement.
A lower-level billet may be elevated to three-stars, in accordance with being designated as a position of importance, to highlight importance to the defense apparatus or achieve parity with equivalent commands in the same area of responsibility or service branch.
A four-star billet may also be reduced to three-stars, usually to compensate for another billet being elevated to four-star level and thus remain within statutory limits.
The standard tour length for a three-star officer is three years, specifically a two-year term with a one-year extension. Unlike with four-star ranks, many three-star positions have stipulated term lengths in the U.S. Code:
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. [305] [306] Three-star grades may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare.
Besides voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. A three-star officer may serve for a maximum of 38 years of commissioned service unless reappointed to rank to serve longer or appointed to a higher rank. [309] Three-star officers on reserve active duty must retire after five years in grade or 30 days after completion of 38 years of commissioned service, whichever is later, unless reappointed to rank to serve longer. [310] Three-star reserve officers of the Army and Air Force can have their retirements deferred by their service secretary until the officer's 66th birthday, [311] which the secretary of defense may do for all active-duty officers, [312] and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday. [312] Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday. [312] Officers that served several years in the enlisted ranks prior to receiving their commission typically don't make it to the 38 years in commission mark, because they are still subject to the age restrictions for retirement.
By statute, any three-star officer assigned as superintendent of the United States Military Academy, [313] superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, [314] and superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy [315] must retire upon completion of their assignment, [316] [314] [317] unless a waiver is granted by the secretary of defense. [318] [319] [320] The secretary of defense must also notify the House and Senate Armed Services committees and include a written notification of intent from the president to nominate the officer for reassignment. [318] [319] [320] If a waiver is granted, the subsequent nomination and appointment of such officer having served as superintendent of the Academy to a further assignment in lieu of retirement shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. [318] [319] [320]
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. The higher number of available three-star slots overall (ranging from around 100 to 200) means that lateral promotion is more likely for three-star officers before they either retire or are appointed to a higher rank. [lower-alpha 15] An officer who vacates a position bearing that rank has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal or greater importance, including positions of four-star rank, before involuntary retirement. [250]
A three-star officer may also be reduced to their permanent rank, and equivalent pay grade, in circumstances where reappointment to three-star rank is delayed. Historically, officers leaving three-star or 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.
To retire at three-star rank, or pay grade of rank, an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active-duty service in that rank, as determined by the secretary of defense. [329] The president and Congress must also receive certification by either the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, the deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, or the secretary of defense that the retiree served satisfactorily in rank. [329] The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years, but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct. [330] The president may also reduce these requirements even further, or waive the requirements altogether, if he so chooses. [329] [330] Three-star officers who do not meet the service-in-rank requirement will retire at the last permanent rank satisfactorily held for six months. [329] The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade. It is extraordinarily rare for a three-star or four-star officer not to be certified to retire in grade or for the Senate to seek final approval.
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. [329]
Furthermore, all retired officers may still be subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and disciplinary action, including reduction in retirement grade, by the secretary of defense or the president if they are deemed to have served unsatisfactorily in grade, after their retirement. [347]
Officers holding a temporary three-star or four-star rank 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.
A statutory limit can be waived by the president with the consent of Congress if it serves national interest. However, this is extremely rare. Only two four-star officers have been granted such a waiver in American history: General Lewis B. Hershey, who served as director of the Selective Service System from 1941 to 1970, and Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, who served as director of Naval Reactors from 1949 to 1982.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, which advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council on military matters. The composition of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is defined by statute and consists of a chairman (CJCS), a vice chairman (VJCS), the chiefs of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and the chief of the National Guard Bureau. Each of the individual service chiefs, outside their JCS obligations, works directly under the secretaries of their respective military departments, e.g. the secretary of the Army, the secretary of the Navy, and the secretary of the Air Force.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces and the principal military advisor to the president, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the secretary of defense. While the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff outranks all other commissioned officers, the chairman is prohibited by law from having operational command authority over the armed forces; however, the chairman assists the president and the secretary of defense in exercising their command functions.
In the United States military, a general is the most senior general-grade officer; it is the highest achievable commissioned officer rank that may be attained in the United States Armed Forces, with exception of the Navy and Coast Guard, which have the equivalent rank of admiral instead. The official and formal insignia of "general" is defined by its four stars.
In the United States Armed Forces, a lieutenant general is a three-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
In the United States Armed Forces, a major general is a two-star general officer in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
A rear admiral in the uniformed services of the United States is either of two different ranks of commissioned officers: one-star flag officers and two-star flag officers. By contrast, in most other countries, the term "rear admiral" refers only to an officer of two-star rank.