This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Army, past and present. The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Army. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general) and below General of the Army (five-star general).
There have been 256 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Army. Of these, 242 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Army; eight were promoted after retirement; five were promoted posthumously; and one (George Washington) was appointed to that rank in the Continental Army, the U.S. Army's predecessor. Generals entered the Army via several paths: 161 were commissioned via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), 53 via Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university, 16 via direct commission (direct), 14 via Officer Candidate School (OCS), eight via ROTC at a senior military college, one via ROTC at a military junior college, one via direct commission in the Army National Guard (ARNG), one via the aviation cadet program, and one via battlefield commission.
Entries in the following list of four-star generals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Army. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank,[1] active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank,[2] number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs),[3] year commissioned and source of commission,[4] number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC),[5] and other biographical notes.[6]
# | Name | Photo | Date of rank[1] | Position[2] | Yrs[3] | Commission[4] | YC[5] | Notes[6] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* | George Washington | 15 Jun 1775 |
|
8 | 1775 (direct) | 0 | (1732–1799)[7] Promoted to General of the Armies, 4 Jul 1976. U.S. President, 1789–1797. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1776. | |
1 | Ulysses S. Grant | 25 Jul 1866 |
|
5 | 1843 (USMA) | 23 | (1822–1885)[8] U.S. President, 1869–1877. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1863. Married great-aunt of Navy four-star admiral U. S. Grant Sharp Jr. | |
2 | William T. Sherman | 4 Mar 1869 |
|
14 | 1840 (USMA) | 29 | (1820–1891) Superintendent, Louisiana Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, 1860–1861. Brother of U.S. Secretary of State John Sherman. | |
3 | Philip H. Sheridan | 1 Jun 1888 |
|
0 | 1853 (USMA) | 35 | (1831–1888) Died in office. | |
4 | Tasker H. Bliss | 6 Oct 1917 |
|
2 | 1875 (USMA) | 42 | (1853–1930)[9][10] Governor, U.S. Soldiers' Home, 1920–1927. | |
5 | John J. Pershing | 6 Oct 1917 |
|
7 | 1886 (USMA) | 31 | (1860–1948) Promoted to General of the Armies, 3 Sep 1919. Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1923–1948; Chairman, Tacna-Arica Plebiscitary Commission, 1925–1926. Awarded Pulitzer Prize for History, 1932; Congressional Gold Medal, 1946. | |
6 | Peyton C. March | 20 May 1918 |
|
2 | 1888 (USMA) | 30 | (1864–1955)[10] | |
7 | Charles P. Summerall | 23 Feb 1929 |
|
1 | 1892 (USMA) | 37 | (1867–1955)[11] President, The Citadel, 1931–1953. | |
8 | Douglas MacArthur | 21 Nov 1930 |
|
15 | 1903 (USMA) | 27 | (1880–1964)[12] Promoted to general of the Army, 18 Dec 1944. Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1919–1922. Awarded Medal of Honor, 1942; Congressional Gold Medal, 1962. Grandson of Wisconsin Governor Arthur MacArthur Sr.; uncle of U.S. Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II. Relieved, 1951. | |
9 | Malin Craig | 2 Oct 1935 |
|
8 | 1898 (USMA) | 37 | (1875–1945)[13] | |
10 | George C. Marshall Jr. | 1 Sep 1939 |
|
6 | 1902 (VMI)[14] | 38 | (1880–1959)[15] Promoted to general of the Army, 16 Dec 1944. Special Representative of the President in China, 1945–1947; U.S. Secretary of State, 1947–1949; Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1949–1959; President, American Red Cross, 1949–1950; U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1950–1951. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1946; Nobel Peace Prize, 1953. | |
* | John L. Hines | 15 Jun 1940 |
|
0 | 1891 (USMA) | 49 | (1868–1968)[16] Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, 1924–1926. | |
11 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | 11 Feb 1943 |
|
6 | 1915 (USMA) | 28 | (1890–1969)[17] Promoted to general of the Army, 20 Dec 1944. President, Columbia University, 1948–1953; U.S. President, 1953–1961. | |
12 | Henry H. Arnold | 19 Mar 1943 |
|
3 | 1907 (USMA) | 36 | (1886–1950)[19] Promoted to general of the Army, 21 Dec 1944; to general of the Air Force, 7 May 1949. | |
13 | Joseph W. Stilwell | 1 Aug 1944 |
|
2 | 1904 (USMA) | 40 | (1883–1946) Died in office. | |
14 | Walter Krueger | 5 Mar 1945 |
|
1 | 1901 (direct) | 44 | (1881–1967)[20] | |
15 | Brehon B. Somervell | 6 Mar 1945 |
|
1 | 1914 (USMA) | 31 | (1892–1955)[21] | |
16 | Joseph T. McNarney | 7 Mar 1945 |
|
7 | 1915 (USMA) | 30 | (1893–1972)[19] | |
17 | Jacob L. Devers | 8 Mar 1945 |
|
4 | 1909 (USMA) | 36 | (1887–1979) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1960–1969. | |
18 | George C. Kenney | 9 Mar 1945 |
|
6 | 1917 (cadet) | 28 | (1889–1977)[19] | |
19 | Mark W. Clark | 10 Mar 1945 |
|
8 | 1917 (USMA) | 28 | (1896–1984)[22] President, The Citadel, 1954–1966; Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1969–1984. | |
20 | Carl A. Spaatz | 11 Mar 1945 |
|
3 | 1914 (USMA) | 31 | (1891–1974)[19] | |
21 | Omar N. Bradley | 12 Mar 1945 |
|
8 | 1915 (USMA) | 30 | (1893–1981) Promoted to general of the Army, 22 Sep 1950. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1977. | |
22 | Thomas T. Handy | 13 Mar 1945 |
|
9 | 1916 (VMI)[14] | 29 | (1892–1982) | |
23 | George S. Patton Jr. | 14 Apr 1945 |
|
0 | 1909 (USMA) | 36 | (1885–1945) Died in office. Father-in-law of Army four-star general John K. Waters. | |
24 | Courtney H. Hodges | 15 Apr 1945 |
|
4 | 1909 (direct) | 36 | (1887–1966) | |
25 | Jonathan M. Wainwright IV | 5 Sep 1945 |
|
1 | 1906 (USMA) | 39 | (1883–1953) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1945. | |
26 | Lucius D. Clay | 28 Mar 1947 |
|
2 | 1918 (USMA) | 29 | (1897–1978) Special Representative of the President in Berlin, 1961–1962. Son of U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay; father of Air Force four-star general Lucius D. Clay Jr. | |
27 | J. Lawton Collins | 24 Jan 1948 |
|
8 | 1917 (USMA) | 31 | (1896–1987) U.S. Special Representative to Vietnam, 1954–1955. | |
28 | Wade H. Haislip | 1 Oct 1949 |
|
2 | 1912 (USMA) | 37 | (1889–1971) Governor, U.S. Soldiers' Home, 1951–1966. | |
* | Walton H. Walker | 2 Jan 1951 |
|
0 | 1912 (USMA) | 39 | (1889–1950)[24] Died in office. Father of Army four-star general Sam S. Walker. | |
29 | Matthew B. Ridgway | 11 May 1951 |
|
4 | 1917 (USMA) | 34 | (1895–1993) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1986; Congressional Gold Medal, 1990. | |
30 | Walter Bedell Smith | 1 Jul 1951 |
|
2 | 1917 (direct) | 34 | (1895–1961) U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1946–1949; U.S. Under Secretary of State, 1953–1954. | |
31 | John E. Hull | 30 Jul 1951 |
|
4 | 1917 (direct) | 34 | (1895–1975) | |
32 | James A. Van Fleet | 31 Jul 1951 |
|
2 | 1915 (USMA) | 36 | (1892–1992) Special Representative of the President in the Far East, 1954. | |
33 | Alfred M. Gruenther | 1 Aug 1951 |
|
5 | 1917 (USMA) | 34 | (1899–1983) President, American Red Cross, 1957–1964. | |
34 | John R. Hodge | 5 Jul 1952 |
|
1 | 1917 (direct) | 35 | (1893–1963) | |
35 | Maxwell D. Taylor | 23 Jun 1953 |
|
9 | 1922 (USMA) | 31 | (1901–1987)[25] Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1945–1949; U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, 1964–1965; President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1966–1969. | |
36 | Charles L. Bolte | 30 Jul 1953 |
|
2 | 1917 (direct) | 36 | (1895–1989) | |
37 | William M. Hoge Jr. | 23 Oct 1953 |
|
2 | 1916 (USMA) | 37 | (1894–1979) | |
* | Robert L. Eichelberger | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1909 (USMA) | 45 | (1886–1961)[26] Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1940–1942. | |
* | Lucian K. Truscott Jr. | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1917 (direct) | 37 | (1895–1965)[26] | |
* | Leonard T. Gerow | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1911 (VMI)[14] | 43 | (1888–1972)[26] | |
* | William H. Simpson | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1909 (USMA) | 45 | (1888–1980)[26] | |
* | Ben Lear Jr. | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1901 (direct) | 53 | (1879–1966)[26] | |
* | Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1908 (USMA) | 46 | (1886–1945)[26] Killed in action. Son of Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner Sr. | |
* | Alexander M. Patch | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1913 (USMA) | 41 | (1889–1945)[26] Died in office. | |
* | Lesley J. McNair | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1904 (USMA) | 50 | (1883–1944)[26] Killed in action. | |
* | John L. DeWitt | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1898 (direct) | 56 | (1880–1962)[26] | |
* | Albert C. Wedemeyer | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1918 (USMA) | 36 | (1897–1989)[26] Special Representative of the President in China and Korea, 1947. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1985. | |
* | Robert C. Richardson Jr. | 19 Jul 1954 |
|
0 | 1904 (USMA) | 50 | (1882–1954)[26] | |
38 | John E. Dahlquist | 18 Aug 1954 |
|
2 | 1917 (direct) | 37 | (1896–1975) | |
39 | Anthony C. McAuliffe | 1 Mar 1955 |
|
1 | 1918 (USMA) | 37 | (1898–1975) | |
40 | Lyman L. Lemnitzer | 25 Mar 1955 |
|
14 | 1920 (USMA) | 35 | (1899–1988)[28] Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1987. | |
41 | Williston B. Palmer | 1 May 1955 |
|
7 | 1919 (USMA) | 36 | (1899–1973)[29] Brother of Army four-star general Charles D. Palmer. | |
42 | Isaac D. White | 22 Jun 1955 |
|
6 | 1922 (Norwich) | 33 | (1901–1990) | |
43 | Willard G. Wyman | 1 Mar 1956 |
|
2 | 1919 (USMA) | 37 | (1898–1969) | |
44 | Cortlandt V. R. Schuyler | 18 May 1956 |
|
3 | 1922 (USMA) | 34 | (1900–1993) Commissioner, New York State Office of General Services, 1960–1971. | |
45 | George H. Decker | 31 May 1956 |
|
6 | 1924 (ROTC) | 32 | (1902–1980) | |
46 | Henry I. Hodes | 1 Jun 1956 |
|
3 | 1920 (USMA) | 36 | (1899–1962) | |
47 | Bruce C. Clarke | 1 Aug 1958 |
|
4 | 1925 (USMA) | 33 | (1901–1988) | |
48 | Clyde D. Eddleman | 1 Apr 1959 |
|
3 | 1924 (USMA) | 35 | (1902–1992) | |
49 | Carter B. Magruder | 1 Jul 1959 |
|
2 | 1923 (USMA) | 36 | (1900–1988) | |
50 | Charles D. Palmer | 1 Oct 1959 |
|
3 | 1924 (USMA) | 35 | (1902–1999) Brother of Army four-star general Williston B. Palmer. | |
51 | Clark L. Ruffner | 1 Mar 1960 |
|
2 | 1924 (VMI) | 36 | (1903–1982) | |
52 | James E. Moore | 21 Apr 1960 |
|
3 | 1924 (USMA) | 36 | (1902–1986) U.S. High Commissioner, Ryukyu Islands, 1955–1958. | |
53 | Herbert B. Powell | 1 Oct 1960 |
|
3 | 1926 (ROTC) | 34 | (1903–1998) U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, 1963–1967. | |
54 | James F. Collins | 1 Apr 1961 |
|
3 | 1927 (USMA) | 34 | (1905–1989) President, American Red Cross, 1964–1970. | |
55 | Guy S. Meloy Jr. | 1 Jul 1961 |
|
2 | 1927 (USMA) | 34 | (1903–1964) | |
56 | Paul D. Adams | 3 Oct 1961 |
|
5 | 1928 (USMA) | 33 | (1906–1987) | |
57 | Paul D. Harkins | 2 Jan 1962 |
|
2 | 1929 (USMA) | 33 | (1904–1984) | |
58 | Earle G. Wheeler | 1 Mar 1962 |
|
8 | 1932 (USMA) | 30 | (1908–1975) Widow married Army four-star general Frank S. Besson Jr. | |
59 | Barksdale Hamlett | 2 Apr 1962 |
|
2 | 1930 (USMA) | 32 | (1908–1979) President, Norwich University, 1966–1972. | |
60 | Paul L. Freeman Jr. | 1 May 1962 |
|
5 | 1929 (USMA) | 33 | (1907–1988) | |
61 | Robert J. Wood | 1 Sep 1962 |
|
3 | 1930 (USMA) | 32 | (1905–1986) | |
62 | John K. Waters | 28 Feb 1963 |
|
3 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1906–1989) Son-in-law of Army four-star general George S. Patton. | |
63 | Andrew P. O'Meara | 6 Jun 1963 |
|
4 | 1930 (USMA) | 33 | (1907–2005) | |
64 | Theodore W. Parker | 1 Jul 1963 |
|
6 | 1931 (USMA) | 32 | (1909–1994) Commissioner, New York State Department of Transportation, 1969–1972. | |
65 | Hamilton H. Howze | 1 Aug 1963 |
|
2 | 1930 (USMA) | 33 | (1908–1998) | |
66 | Hugh P. Harris | 1 Mar 1964 |
|
1 | 1931 (USMA) | 33 | (1909–1979) President, The Citadel, 1965–1970. | |
67 | Frank S. Besson Jr. | 27 May 1964 |
|
6 | 1932 (USMA) | 32 | (1910–1985)[30] Incorporator, National Rail Passenger Corporation, 1970–1971; Member, Board of Directors, AMTRAK, 1971–1974. Married widow of Army four-star general Earle G. Wheeler. | |
68 | Harold K. Johnson | 3 Jul 1964 |
|
4 | 1933 (USMA) | 31 | (1912–1983) | |
69 | William C. Westmoreland | 1 Aug 1964 |
|
8 | 1936 (USMA) | 28 | (1914–2005) Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1960–1963; candidate for Republican Party nomination for Governor of South Carolina, 1974. | |
70 | Creighton W. Abrams Jr. | 4 Sep 1964 |
|
10 | 1936 (USMA) | 28 | (1914–1974) Died in office. Father of Army four-star generals John N. Abrams and Robert B. Abrams. | |
71 | Robert W. Porter Jr. | 18 Mar 1965 |
|
4 | 1930 (USMA) | 35 | (1908–2000) | |
72 | Dwight E. Beach | 1 Jul 1965 |
|
3 | 1932 (USMA) | 33 | (1908–2000) | |
73 | Charles H. Bonesteel III | 1 Sep 1966 |
|
3 | 1931 (USMA) | 35 | (1909–1977) | |
74 | Theodore J. Conway | 1 Nov 1966 |
|
3 | 1933 (USMA) | 33 | (1909–1990) | |
75 | James H. Polk | 31 May 1967 |
|
4 | 1933 (USMA) | 34 | (1911–1992) Distant cousin of U.S. President James K. Polk. | |
76 | Ralph E. Haines Jr. | 1 Jun 1967 |
|
6 | 1935 (USMA) | 32 | (1913–2011) | |
77 | James K. Woolnough | 1 Jul 1967 |
|
3 | 1932 (USMA) | 35 | (1910–1996) | |
78 | Andrew J. Goodpaster | 3 Jul 1968 |
|
6 | 1939 (USMA) | 29 | (1915–2005)[31] Staff Secretary/Defense Liaison Officer to the President, 1954–1961; Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1977–1981; President, Institute for Defense Analyses, 1983–1985; Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1985–1990. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1961 and 1984. | |
79 | Ben Harrell | 4 Jul 1968 |
|
3 | 1933 (USMA) | 35 | (1911–1981) | |
80 | Berton E. Spivy Jr. | 31 Jul 1968 |
|
3 | 1934 (USMA) | 34 | (1911–1997) | |
81 | Bruce Palmer Jr. | 1 Aug 1968 |
|
6 | 1936 (USMA) | 32 | (1913–2000) | |
82 | George R. Mather | 1 Mar 1969 |
|
2 | 1932 (USMA) | 37 | (1911–1993) | |
83 | Ferdinand J. Chesarek | 10 Mar 1969 |
|
1 | 1938 (USMA) | 31 | (1914–1993) | |
84 | William B. Rosson | 15 May 1969 |
|
6 | 1940 (ROTC) | 29 | (1918–2004) | |
85 | John L. Throckmorton | 1 Aug 1969 |
|
4 | 1935 (USMA) | 34 | (1913–1986) | |
86 | John H. Michaelis | 1 Oct 1969 |
|
3 | 1936 (USMA) | 33 | (1912–1985) | |
87 | Lewis B. Hershey | 23 Dec 1969 |
|
4 | 1913 (ARNG) | 56 | (1893–1977)[32] Director, Selective Service System, 1941–1970. | |
88 | Frederick C. Weyand | 31 Oct 1970 |
|
6 | 1938 (ROTC) | 32 | (1916–2010) | |
89 | Henry A. Miley Jr. | 1 Nov 1970 |
|
5 | 1940 (USMA) | 30 | (1915–2010) | |
90 | Frank T. Mildren | 1 Apr 1971 |
|
2 | 1939 (USMA) | 32 | (1913–1990) | |
91 | Michael S. Davison | 26 May 1971 |
|
4 | 1939 (USMA) | 32 | (1917–2006) Aunt married Navy four-star admiral Arthur W. Radford. | |
92 | George V. Underwood Jr. | 1 Oct 1971 |
|
2 | 1937 (USMA) | 34 | (1913–1984) | |
93 | Donald V. Bennett | 1 Sep 1972 |
|
2 | 1940 (USMA) | 32 | (1915–2005) Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1966–1969; Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, 1969–1972. | |
94 | Alexander M. Haig Jr. | 4 Jan 1973[33] |
|
5 | 1947 (USMA) | 26 | (1924–2010)[35] Deputy National Security Advisor, 1970–1973; U.S. Secretary of State, 1981–1982; candidate for Republican Party nomination for U.S. President, 1988. | |
95 | Walter T. Kerwin Jr. | 1 Feb 1973 |
|
5 | 1939 (USMA) | 34 | (1917–2008) Married widow of Marine Corps four-star general Keith B. McCutcheon. | |
96 | William E. DePuy | 1 Jul 1973 |
|
4 | 1941 (ROTC) | 32 | (1919–1992) | |
97 | Richard G. Stilwell | 31 Jul 1973 |
|
3 | 1938 (USMA) | 35 | (1917–1991) U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, 1981–1985. | |
98 | Melvin Zais | 1 Aug 1973 |
|
3 | 1937 (ROTC) | 36 | (1916–1981) | |
99 | Bernard W. Rogers | 7 Nov 1974 |
|
13 | 1943 (USMA) | 31 | (1921–2008) | |
100 | John J. Hennessey | 8 Nov 1974 |
|
5 | 1944 (USMA) | 30 | (1921–2001) | |
101 | John R. Deane Jr. | 12 Feb 1975 |
|
2 | 1942 (USMA) | 33 | (1919–2013) | |
102 | George S. Blanchard | 1 Jul 1975 |
|
4 | 1944 (USMA) | 31 | (1920–2006) | |
103 | William A. Knowlton | 1 Jun 1976 |
|
4 | 1943 (USMA) | 33 | (1920–2008) Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 1970–1974. Father-in-law of Army four-star general David H. Petraeus. | |
104 | Frederick J. Kroesen Jr. | 1 Oct 1976 |
|
7 | 1943 (OCS) | 33 | (1923–2020) | |
105 | John W. Vessey Jr. | 1 Nov 1976 |
|
9 | 1944 (battlefield) | 32 | (1922–2016) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1992. | |
106 | Sam S. Walker | 1977 |
|
1 | 1946 (USMA) | 31 | (1925–2015) Superintendent, Virginia Military Institute, 1981–1988. Son of Army four-star general Walton H. Walker. | |
107 | John R. Guthrie | 1 May 1977 |
|
4 | 1942 (ROTC) | 35 | (1921–2009) | |
108 | Donn A. Starry | 1 Jul 1977 |
|
6 | 1948 (USMA) | 29 | (1925–2011) | |
109 | Robert M. Shoemaker | 22 Aug 1978 |
|
4 | 1946 (USMA) | 32 | (1924–2017) | |
110 | Edward C. Meyer | 22 Jun 1979 |
|
4 | 1951 (USMA) | 28 | (1928–2021) | |
111 | John A. Wickham Jr. | 10 Jul 1979 |
|
8 | 1950 (USMA) | 29 | (1928– ) | |
112 | Volney F. Warner | 1 Aug 1979 |
|
2 | 1950 (USMA) | 29 | (1926–2019) | |
113 | Glenn K. Otis | 1 Aug 1981 |
|
7 | 1953 (USMA) | 28 | (1929–2013) | |
114 | Donald R. Keith | 1 Sep 1981 |
|
3 | 1949 (USMA) | 32 | (1927–2004) | |
115 | Richard E. Cavazos | 19 Feb 1982 |
|
2 | 1951 (ROTC) | 31 | (1929–2017) Brother of U.S. Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos. First Hispanic to achieve the rank of general in the Army. | |
116 | Robert W. Sennewald | 24 May 1982 |
|
4 | 1951 (ROTC) | 31 | (1929–2023) | |
117 | Roscoe Robinson Jr. | 30 Aug 1982 |
|
3 | 1951 (USMA) | 31 | (1928–1993) First African-American to achieve the rank of general in the Army. | |
118 | William R. Richardson | 28 Feb 1983 |
|
3 | 1951 (USMA) | 32 | (1929– ) | |
119 | Paul F. Gorman | 25 May 1983 |
|
2 | 1950 (USMA) | 33 | (1927– ) | |
120 | Wallace H. Nutting | 25 May 1983 |
|
2 | 1950 (USMA) | 33 | (1928– ) | |
121 | Maxwell R. Thurman | 23 Jun 1983 |
|
7 | 1953 (ROTC) | 30 | (1931–1995) | |
122 | William J. Livsey | 3 May 1984 |
|
3 | 1952 (ROTC) | 32 | (1931–2016) | |
123 | Richard H. Thompson | 29 Jun 1984 |
|
3 | 1950 (direct) | 34 | (1926–2016) | |
124 | Robert C. Kingston | 6 Nov 1984 |
|
1 | 1949 (OCS) | 35 | (1928–2007) | |
125 | John R. Galvin | 25 Feb 1985 |
|
7 | 1954 (USMA) | 31 | (1929–2015) U.S. Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1994. | |
126 | Fred K. Mahaffey | 17 Jun 1985 |
|
1 | 1955 (ROTC) | 30 | (1934–1986) Died in office. | |
127 | Jack N. Merritt | 1 Dec 1985 |
|
2 | 1953 (OCS) | 32 | (1930–2018) | |
128 | Carl E. Vuono | 1 Jul 1986 |
|
5 | 1957 (USMA) | 29 | (1934– ) | |
129 | Joseph T. Palastra Jr. | 1 Jul 1986 |
|
3 | 1954 (USMA) | 32 | (1931–2015) | |
130 | James J. Lindsay | 10 Oct 1986 |
|
4 | 1953 (OCS) | 33 | (1932– ) | |
131 | Louis C. Wagner Jr. | 13 Apr 1987 |
|
2 | 1954 (USMA) | 33 | (1932– ) | |
132 | Frederick F. Woerner Jr. | 6 Jun 1987 |
|
2 | 1955 (USMA) | 32 | (1933–2023) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1994–2001. Relieved, 1989. | |
133 | Arthur E. Brown Jr. | 24 Jun 1987 |
|
2 | 1953 (USMA) | 34 | (1929– ) | |
134 | Louis C. Menetrey | 24 Jun 1987 |
|
3 | 1953 (ROTC) | 34 | (1929–2009) | |
135 | Crosbie E. Saint | 24 Jun 1988 |
|
4 | 1958 (USMA) | 30 | (1936–2018) | |
136 | H. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. | 23 Nov 1988 |
|
3 | 1956 (USMA) | 32 | (1934–2012)[36] Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1991; Congressional Gold Medal, 1991. | |
137 | Robert W. RisCassi | 17 Jan 1989 |
|
4 | 1958 (ROTC) | 31 | (1936– ) | |
138 | Colin L. Powell | 4 Apr 1989 |
|
4 | 1958 (ROTC) | 31 | (1937–2021) Deputy National Security Advisor, 1987; National Security Advisor, 1987–1989; U.S. Secretary of State, 2001–2005. Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 1991; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1991 and, with distinction, 1993. | |
139 | John W. Foss | 2 Aug 1989 |
|
2 | 1956 (USMA) | 33 | (1933–2020) | |
140 | Edwin H. Burba Jr. | 27 Sep 1989 |
|
4 | 1959 (USMA) | 30 | (1936– ) | |
141 | William G. T. Tuttle Jr. | 1 Oct 1989 |
|
3 | 1958 (USMA) | 31 | (1935–2020) | |
142 | Gordon R. Sullivan | 4 Jun 1990 |
|
5 | 1959 (Norwich) | 31 | (1937– ) | |
143 | Carl W. Stiner | 1 Jul 1990 |
|
3 | 1958 (ROTC) | 32 | (1936–2022) | |
144 | George A. Joulwan | 21 Nov 1990 |
|
7 | 1961 (USMA) | 29 | (1939– ) | |
145 | Dennis J. Reimer | 21 Jun 1991 |
|
8 | 1962 (USMA) | 29 | (1939– ) | |
146 | Frederick M. Franks Jr. | 23 Aug 1991 |
|
3 | 1959 (USMA) | 32 | (1936– ) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 2005–2009. | |
147 | Jimmy D. Ross | 1 Feb 1992 |
|
2 | 1958 (ROTC) | 34 | (1936–2012) | |
148 | John M. Shalikashvili | 24 Jun 1992 |
|
5 | 1959 (OCS) | 33 | (1936–2011) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1997. | |
149 | David M. Maddox | 9 Jul 1992 |
|
2 | 1960 (VMI) | 32 | (1938– )[37] | |
150 | J. H. Binford Peay III | 26 Mar 1993 |
|
4 | 1962 (VMI) | 31 | (1940– ) Superintendent, Virginia Military Institute, 2003–2020. | |
151 | Wayne A. Downing | 20 May 1993 |
|
3 | 1962 (USMA) | 31 | (1940–2007) Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, 2001–2002. | |
152 | Gary E. Luck | 1 Jul 1993 |
|
3 | 1960 (ROTC) | 33 | (1937– ) | |
153 | Leon E. Salomon | 11 Feb 1994 |
|
2 | 1959 (OCS) | 35 | (1936– ) | |
154 | Barry R. McCaffrey | 17 Feb 1994 |
|
2 | 1964 (USMA) | 30 | (1942– ) Director, National Drug Control Policy, 1996–2001. | |
155 | John H. Tilelli Jr. | 19 Jul 1994 |
|
5 | 1963 (PMC)[38] | 31 | (1941– ) | |
156 | William W. Hartzog | 1 Dec 1994 |
|
4 | 1963 (Citadel) | 31 | (1941–2020) | |
157 | William W. Crouch | 1 Jan 1995 |
|
3 | 1963 (ROTC) | 32 | (1941– ) | |
158 | Ronald H. Griffith | 6 Jun 1995 |
|
2 | 1960 (ROTC) | 35 | (1936–2018) | |
159 | H. Hugh Shelton | 1 Mar 1996 |
|
5 | 1964 (ROTC) | 32 | (1942– ) Awarded Congressional Gold Medal, 2002. | |
160 | Johnnie E. Wilson | 1 May 1996 |
|
3 | 1967 (OCS) | 29 | (1944– ) | |
161 | Wesley K. Clark | 21 Jun 1996 |
|
4 | 1966 (USMA) | 30 | (1944– ) Candidate for Democratic Party nomination for U.S. President, 2004. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2000. | |
162 | David A. Bramlett | 1 Sep 1996 |
|
2 | 1964 (USMA) | 32 | (1941– ) | |
163 | Eric K. Shinseki | 5 Aug 1997 |
|
6 | 1965 (USMA) | 32 | (1942– ) U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 2009–2014.[39] First Asian-American to achieve the rank of general in the Army. | |
164 | Peter J. Schoomaker | 4 Oct 1997 |
|
7 | 1969 (ROTC) | 28 | (1946– )[40] Brother of Army lieutenant general Eric Schoomaker. | |
165 | Thomas A. Schwartz | 31 Aug 1998 |
|
4 | 1967 (USMA) | 31 | (1945– ) | |
166 | John N. Abrams | 14 Sep 1998 |
|
4 | 1968 (OCS) | 30 | (1946–2018) Son of Army four-star general Creighton Abrams; brother of Army four-star general Robert B. Abrams. | |
167 | Montgomery C. Meigs | 10 Nov 1998 |
|
4 | 1967 (USMA) | 31 | (1945–2021) Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, 2005–2007. Distant cousin of Navy four-star admiral Montgomery M. Taylor and great-great-great grandnephew of Montgomery C. Meigs. | |
168 | John M. Keane | 22 Jan 1999 |
|
4 | 1966 (ROTC) | 33 | (1943– ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2020. | |
169 | John G. Coburn | 14 May 1999 |
|
2 | 1963 (ROTC) | 36 | (1941– ) | |
170 | John W. Hendrix | 23 Nov 1999 |
|
2 | 1965 (ROTC) | 34 | (1942– ) | |
171 | William F. Kernan | Jul 2000 |
|
2 | 1968 (OCS) | 32 | (1946– ) | |
172 | Tommy R. Franks | 6 Jul 2000 |
|
3 | 1967 (OCS) | 33 | (1945– ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2004. | |
173 | Paul J. Kern | 30 Oct 2001 |
|
3 | 1967 (USMA) | 34 | (1945– ) | |
174 | Larry R. Ellis | 19 Nov 2001 |
|
3 | 1969 (ROTC) | 32 | (1946– ) | |
175 | Leon J. LaPorte | 1 May 2002 |
|
4 | 1968 (ROTC) | 34 | (1946– ) | |
176 | James T. Hill | 18 Aug 2002 |
|
2 | 1968 (ROTC) | 34 | (1946– ) | |
177 | Kevin P. Byrnes | 7 Nov 2002 |
|
3 | 1969 (OCS) | 33 | (1950– )[41] Relieved, 2005. | |
178 | Burwell B. Bell III | 3 Dec 2002 |
|
6 | 1969 (ROTC) | 33 | (1947– ) | |
179 | John P. Abizaid | 27 Jun 2003 |
|
4 | 1973 (USMA) | 30 | (1951– ) U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, 2019–2021. | |
180 | Bryan D. Brown | 25 Aug 2003 |
|
4 | 1970 (OCS) | 33 | (1948– ) | |
181 | George W. Casey Jr. | 1 Dec 2003 |
|
8 | 1970 (ROTC) | 33 | (1948– ) | |
182 | Richard A. Cody | 24 Jun 2004 |
|
4 | 1972 (USMA) | 32 | (1950– ) | |
183 | Dan K. McNeill | 1 Jul 2004 |
|
4 | 1968 (ROTC) | 36 | (1946– ) | |
184 | Benjamin S. Griffin | 5 Nov 2004 |
|
4 | 1970 (OCS) | 34 | (1946– ) | |
185 | Bantz J. Craddock | 1 Jan 2005 |
|
4 | 1971 (ROTC) | 33 | (1949– ) | |
186 | William S. Wallace | 13 Oct 2005 |
|
3 | 1969 (USMA) | 36 | (1946– ) | |
187 | David D. McKiernan | 14 Dec 2005 |
|
4 | 1972 (ROTC) | 33 | (1950– ) Resigned, 2009. | |
188 | William E. Ward | 3 May 2006 |
|
5 | 1971 (ROTC) | 35 | (1949– )[42] U.S. Security Coordinator, Israel-Palestinian Authority, 2005. | |
189 | Charles C. Campbell | 9 Jan 2007 |
|
3 | 1970 (ROTC) | 37 | (1948–2016) | |
190 | David H. Petraeus | 10 Feb 2007 |
|
4 | 1974 (USMA) | 33 | (1952– ) Director, Central Intelligence Agency, 2011–2012. Son-in-law of Army four-star general William A. Knowlton. | |
191 | Walter L. Sharp | 2 Jun 2008 |
|
3 | 1974 (USMA) | 34 | (1952– ) | |
192 | Peter W. Chiarelli | 4 Aug 2008 |
|
4 | 1972 (ROTC) | 36 | (1950– ) | |
193 | Carter F. Ham | 28 Aug 2008 |
|
5 | 1976 (ROTC) | 32 | (1952– ) | |
194 | Raymond T. Odierno | 16 Sep 2008 |
|
7 | 1976 (USMA) | 32 | (1954–2021)[43] | |
195 | Ann E. Dunwoody | 14 Nov 2008 |
|
4 | 1975 (direct) | 33 | (1953– ) First woman to achieve four-star rank in any service. | |
196 | Martin E. Dempsey | 8 Dec 2008 |
|
7 | 1974 (USMA) | 34 | (1952– ) | |
197 | Stanley A. McChrystal | 15 Jun 2009 |
|
1 | 1976 (USMA) | 33 | (1954– ) Resigned, 2010. | |
198 | Keith B. Alexander | 21 May 2010 |
|
4 | 1974 (USMA) | 36 | (1952– ) Director, National Security Agency, 2005–2014. | |
199 | James D. Thurman | 3 Jun 2010 |
|
3 | 1975 (ROTC) | 35 | (1953– ) | |
200 | Lloyd J. Austin III | 1 Sep 2010 |
|
6 | 1975 (USMA) | 35 | (1953– ) U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2021–present. | |
201 | Robert W. Cone | 29 Apr 2011 |
|
3 | 1979 (USMA) | 32 | (1957–2016) | |
202 | Charles H. Jacoby Jr. | 3 Aug 2011 |
|
3 | 1978 (USMA) | 33 | (1954– ) Chair, Modern War Institute, 2015–2019. | |
203 | David M. Rodriguez | 12 Sep 2011 |
|
5 | 1976 (USMA) | 35 | (1954– )[44] | |
204 | Dennis L. Via | 7 Aug 2012 |
|
4 | 1980 (ROTC) | 32 | (1958– ) | |
205 | Frank J. Grass | 7 Sep 2012 |
|
4 | 1981 (OCS) | 31 | (1951– ) Served 12 years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1981. First Army National Guard officer to achieve the rank of general. | |
206 | John F. Campbell | 8 Mar 2013 |
|
3 | 1979 (USMA) | 34 | (1957– )[45] | |
207 | Daniel B. Allyn | 10 May 2013 |
|
4 | 1981 (USMA) | 32 | (1959– ) | |
208 | Vincent K. Brooks | 2 Jul 2013 |
|
5 | 1980 (USMA) | 33 | (1958– ) | |
209 | Curtis M. Scaparrotti | 2 Oct 2013 |
|
6 | 1978 (USMA) | 35 | (1956– ) | |
210 | David G. Perkins | 14 Mar 2014 |
|
4 | 1980 (USMA) | 34 | (1957– ) | |
211 | Mark A. Milley | 15 Aug 2014 |
|
9 | 1980 (ROTC) | 34 | (1958– ) | |
212 | Joseph L. Votel | 28 Aug 2014 |
|
5 | 1980 (USMA) | 34 | (1958– ) | |
213 | Robert B. Abrams | 10 Aug 2015 |
|
6 | 1982 (USMA) | 33 | (1960– ) Son of Army four-star general Creighton Abrams; brother of Army four-star general John N. Abrams. | |
214 | John W. Nicholson Jr. | 2 Mar 2016 |
|
2 | 1982 (USMA) | 34 | (1957– ) Nephew of U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert J. Nicholson. | |
215 | Raymond A. Thomas III | 30 Mar 2016 |
|
3 | 1980 (USMA) | 36 | (1958– ) | |
216 | Robert B. Brown | 30 Apr 2016 |
|
3 | 1981 (USMA) | 35 | (1959– ) | |
217 | Gustave F. Perna | 30 Sep 2016 |
|
5 | 1981 (VFMAC) | 35 | (1960– ) | |
218 | James C. McConville | 16 Jun 2017 |
|
6 | 1981 (USMA) | 36 | (1959– ) | |
219 | Stephen J. Townsend | 2 Mar 2018 |
|
4 | 1982 (NGCSU) | 36 | (1959– ) | |
220 | Paul M. Nakasone | 4 May 2018 |
|
5 | 1986 (ROTC) | 32 | (1963– ) | |
221 | Stephen R. Lyons | 24 Aug 2018 |
|
3 | 1983 (ROTC) | 35 | (c. 1962– ) | |
222 | John M. Murray | 24 Aug 2018 |
|
3 | 1982 (ROTC) | 36 | (c. 1960– ) | |
223 | Austin S. Miller | 2 Sep 2018 |
|
3 | 1983 (USMA) | 35 | (1961– ) | |
224 | Michael X. Garrett | 21 Mar 2019 |
|
3 | 1984 (ROTC) | 35 | (1961– ) | |
225 | Richard D. Clarke Jr. | 29 Mar 2019 |
|
3 | 1984 (USMA) | 35 | (1962– ) | |
226 | Paul E. Funk II | 21 Jun 2019 |
|
3 | 1984 (ROTC) | 35 | (1962– ) Son and son-in-law of Army lieutenant generals Paul E. Funk and John J. Yeosock. | |
227 | Joseph M. Martin | 26 Jul 2019 |
|
3 | 1986 (USMA) | 33 | (1962– ) | |
228 | Paul J. LaCamera | 18 Nov 2019 |
|
4 | 1985 (USMA) | 34 | (1963– )[46] | |
229 | Edward M. Daly | 2 Jul 2020 |
|
3 | 1987 (USMA) | 33 | (1965– ) | |
230 | Daniel R. Hokanson | 3 Aug 2020 |
|
3 | 1986 (USMA) | 34 | (1963– ) | |
231 | James H. Dickinson | 20 Aug 2020 |
|
3 | 1985 (ROTC) | 35 | (c. 1962– ) | |
232 | Christopher G. Cavoli | 1 Oct 2020 |
|
3 | 1987 (ROTC) | 33 | (c. 1965– ) | |
233 | Charles A. Flynn | 4 Jun 2021 |
|
2 | 1985 (ROTC) | 36 | (c. 1963– ) Brother of former National Security Advisor, Michael T. Flynn. | |
234 | Laura J. Richardson | 29 Oct 2021[47] |
|
2 | 1986 (ROTC) | 35 | (1963– ) First female U.S. Army officer to lead a combatant command. | |
235 | Michael E. Kurilla | 1 Apr 2022 |
|
1 | 1988 (USMA) | 34 | (1966– ) | |
236 | Darryl A. Williams | 27 Jun 2022 |
|
1 | 1983 (USMA) | 39 | (1961– ) Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy, 2018–2022. | |
237 | Andrew P. Poppas | 8 Jul 2022 |
|
1 | 1988 (USMA) | 34 | (c. 1966– ) | |
238 | Randy A. George | 5 Aug 2022 |
|
1 | 1988 (USMA) | 34 | (1964– ) | |
239 | Bryan P. Fenton | 30 Aug 2022 |
|
1 | 1987 (ROTC) | 35 | (1965– ) | |
240 | Gary M. Brito | 8 Sep 2022 |
|
1 | 1987 (ROTC) | 35 | (1964– ) | |
241 | James E. Rainey | 4 Oct 2022 |
|
1 | 1987 (ROTC) | 35 | (c. 1964– ) | |
242 | Charles R. Hamilton | 16 Mar 2023 |
|
0 | 1988 (OCS) | 35 | (c. 1967– ) |
In 1775, George Washington was appointed "General and Commander in Chief of the United Colonies" and all its forces. Although Washington ranked as a full general in the Continental Army, he resigned his commission prior to the establishment of the U.S. Army in 1784 and he is therefore considered never to have held the U.S. Army rank of general.[48] In 1798, Washington was commissioned lieutenant general in the U.S. Army and appointed Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States. The following year, Congress created the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, but Washington died before accepting it and the rank lapsed until 1866.[49] Washington was finally promoted to General of the Armies in 1976.
The grade of General of the Armies of the United States was revived in 1866, under the name "General of the Army of the United States" to honor the Civil War achievements of Ulysses S. Grant, the commanding general of the U.S. Army (CGUSA).[50] When Grant resigned his commission to become President in 1869, William T. Sherman was promoted to fill the vacant grade. Congress specified in 1870 that the rank would expire upon Sherman's retirement, but made an exception in 1888 to promote an ailing Philip H. Sheridan. This title is not to be confused with the later five-star rank of General of the Army.[51]
In 1917, the rank of general was recreated in the National Army, a temporary force of conscripts and volunteers authorized for the duration of the World War I emergency. To give American commanders parity of rank with their Allied counterparts, Congress allowed the President to appoint two emergency generals in the National Army, specified to be the chief of staff of the Army (CSA), Tasker H. Bliss and later Peyton C. March; and the commander of United States forces in France, John J. Pershing.[52] When March replaced Bliss as chief of staff, Bliss was continued in four-star rank by brevet as the U.S. military representative to the Supreme War Council.[53] In contrast to the previous grade of general held by Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan, which was a permanent promotion, this new rank was a temporary appointment that was lost when the officer vacated the position bearing that rank, and while Pershing was ultimately advanced to General of the Armies in 1919, March and Bliss reverted to their permanent grades of major general in the Regular Army when the National Army disbanded in 1920.[54]
In 1929, the temporary rank of general in the Regular Army was reauthorized for the office of chief of staff, whose occupant reverted to major general at the end of his term but was allowed to retire as a full general. When the draft force was reconstituted for World War II as the Army of the United States in 1941, the President was authorized to appoint as many temporary generals in that organization as he deemed necessary. As with the National Army emergency generals, these appointments expired after the end of the war, although postwar legislation allowed officers to retire in their highest active-duty rank.[55]
The modern rank of general was established by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, which authorized the President to designate certain positions of importance to carry that rank. Officers appointed to such positions bear temporary four-star rank while so serving, and are allowed to retire at that rank if their performance is judged satisfactory.[56] The total number of active-duty four-star generals in the Army is limited to a fixed percentage of the number of Army general officers serving at all ranks.[57]
Within the Army, the chief of staff (CSA) and vice chief of staff (VCSA) are four-star generals by statute. Since World War II, the commanders of the Army formations in Europe (USAREUR) and East Asia (FECOM/USFK) have been designated four-star generals by reason of importance. Other designated four-star Army commands have included the various training, readiness, and materiel organizations.
The Army also competes with the other services for a number of joint four-star positions, the most prestigious of which are the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe (SACEUR).[58] Other joint four-star positions have included unified combatant commanders; certain NATO staff positions; and the wartime theater commanders in Vietnam (MACV), Iraq (MNF-I), and Afghanistan (ISAF/RS).