Admiral (United States)

Admiral
Flag of an admiral of the unrestricted line, United States Navy.
The service khaki collar insignia of a U.S. Navy admiral.
The shoulder stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of a U.S. Navy admiral of the "line".
Country	United States of America
Service branch	United States Navy United States Coast Guard United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Abbreviation	ADM
Rank	Four-star
NATO rank code	OF-9
Non-NATO rank	O-10
Formation	July 25, 1866
Next higher rank	Fleet admiral
Next lower rank	Vice admiral
Equivalent ranks	General (Uniformed services of the United States)

Admiral (abbreviated as ADM) is a four-star commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below fleet admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health Service do not have an established grade above admiral. Admiral is equivalent to the rank of general in the other uniformed services. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) has never had an officer hold the grade of admiral. However, 37 U.S.C. § 201 of the U.S. Code established the grade for the NOAA Corps, in case a position is created that merits the four-star grade.

Since the five-star grade of fleet admiral has not been used since 1946, the grade of admiral is the highest appointment an officer can achieve in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.