There are currently 41 active-duty four-star officers in the uniformed services of the United States: 16 in the Army, two in the Marine Corps, seven in the Navy, 11 in the Air Force, two in the Space Force, two in the Coast Guard, and one in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Of the eight federal uniformed services, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is the only service that does not have an established four-star position.
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Joint Staff | ||||
|
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) | 
|
General Mark A. Milley[1] Retiring[2] |
 U.S. Army |
|
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS) | .jpg)
|
Admiral Christopher W. Grady[3] |
 U.S. Navy |
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Guard | ||||
|
Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) | 
|
General Daniel R. Hokanson[19] |
U.S. Army |
| Sub-unified commands | ||||
   |
Korea Commander, United Nations Command (UNC), Commander, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) |
|
General Paul J. LaCamera[20][21] |
U.S. Army |
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters Marine Corps | ||||
|
Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) | 
|
Vacant |  U.S. Marine Corps |
|
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) | 
|
General Eric M. Smith[31][a] |
U.S. Marine Corps |
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Chief of Space Operations | ||||
|
Chief of Space Operations (CSO) | 
|
General B. Chance Saltzman[48] |
 U.S. Space Force |
|
Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO) | .jpg)
|
General David D. Thompson[49] |
U.S. Space Force |
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Commandant | ||||
|
Commandant of the Coast Guard | 
|
Admiral Linda L. Fagan[50] |
 U.S. Coast Guard |
|
Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard | 
|
Admiral Steven D. Poulin[51] |
U.S. Coast Guard |
| Position insignia | Position | Photo | Incumbent | Service branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health | ||||
|
Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)[d] | 
|
Admiral Rachel L. Levine[52] |
 U.S. Public Health Service |
| Designated position insignia | Designated position | Current position | Photo | Name | Service branch | Status and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) | Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) |  |
General Charles Q. Brown Jr. |
 U.S. Air Force |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 20 July 2023[53][54][55] |
   |
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), Director, National Security Agency (NSA) and Chief, Central Security Service (CSS) |
Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) | .jpg) |
Lieutenant General Timothy D. Haugh |
U.S. Air Force |
Hearings held 20 July 2023[56][57][58][59] |
 |
Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) | 
|
Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr. |
U.S. Navy |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[56][60][61][62] |
  |
Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) |
Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) | .jpg) |
Lieutenant General Gregory M. Guillot |
U.S. Air Force |
Hearings held 26 July 2023[63][59][64] |
 |
Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) | Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC) | .jpg) |
Lieutenant General Stephen N. Whiting |
U.S. Space Force |
Hearings held 26 July 2023[65][66][64] |
 |
Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) | Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) | 
|
General Randy A. George |
U.S. Army |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 20 July 2023[67][68][69] |
 |
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) | Director of the Joint Staff (DJS) | .jpg)
|
Lieutenant General James J. Mingus |
U.S. Army |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 20 July 2023[70] |
|
Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) | Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) |
|
General Eric M. Smith |
U.S. Marine Corps |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 21 June 2023[71][72][59] |
|
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (ACMC) | Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (DC P&R) | 
|
Lieutenant General Christopher J. Mahoney |
U.S. Marine Corps |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[73][74] |
 |
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) | Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) | .jpg)
|
Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti |
U.S. Navy |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[56][60][75][62] |
 |
Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) | 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 James W. Kilby |
U.S. Navy |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[56][60][76][62] |
 |
Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Administrator, NNSA's Naval Reactors |
Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR), Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT), Commander, Allied Submarine Command (ASC), Commander, Task Force 114 (CTF-114), Commander, Task Force 88 (CTF-88) and Commander, Task Force 46 (CTF-46) |
|
Vice Admiral William J. Houston |
U.S. Navy |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 17 May 2023[77][78] |
|
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) | Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5), Joint Staff and Senior Member, United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee |
|
Vice Admiral Stephen T. Koehler |
U.S. Navy |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[56][60][79][62] |
 |
Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) | Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (VCSAF) | .jpg) |
General David W. Allvin |
U.S. Air Force |
Nomination sent to the Senate 25 July 2023[80][81] |
 |
Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC) | Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (PACOPS) |
|
General Kenneth S. Wilsbach |
U.S. Air Force |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 17 May 2023[82][83] |
 |
Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff (PACOPS) |
Director of Staff of the United States Air Force (AF/DS) | .jpg)
|
Lieutenant General Kevin B. Schneider |
U.S. Air Force |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 17 May 2023[84][85] |
|
Vice Chief of Space Operations (VCSO) | Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC) |  |
Lieutenant General Michael A. Guetlein |
U.S. Space Force |
Placed on Senate Executive Calendar 20 July 2023[86][66] |
The U.S. Code explicitly limits the total number of four-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 218 for the Army, 149 for the Navy, 170 for the Air Force, 62 for the Marine Corps, and 21 for the Space Force.[87] For the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, no more than about 23%[e] of each service's active-duty general or flag officers may have more than two stars,[88] and statute sets the total number of four-star officers allowed in each service.[88] This is set at eight four-star Army generals,[88] six four-star Navy admirals,[88] nine four-star Air Force generals,[88] two four-star Marine generals,[88] two four-star Space Force generals,[89][88] and two four-star Coast Guard admirals.[90]
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Several of these slots are reserved by statute. For the Army and the Air Force, the chief of staff[91][92] and the vice chief of staff[93][94] for both services are all four-star generals; for the Navy, the chief[95] and vice chief of naval operations[96] are both four-star admirals; for the Marine Corps, the commandant[97] and the assistant commandant[98] are both four-star generals. For the Space Force, the chief of space operations is a four-star general.[99][f] For the Coast Guard, the commandant[100] and the vice commandant[101] are both four-star admirals. The chief of the National Guard Bureau[102] is a four-star general under reserve active duty in the Army or Air Force. And for the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the assistant secretary for health[103] is a four-star admiral if they hold an active-duty appointment to the regular corps.
There are several exceptions to the limits allowing more than allotted four-star officers within the statute. The secretary of defense can designate no more than 19 additional four-star officers,[104] who do not count against any service's general- or flag-officer limit,[104] to serve in one of several joint positions. A four-star officer serving as chairman[105] or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff[105] does not count against his or her service's general- or flag-officer cap. These joint positions include the commander of a unified combatant command,[106] the commander of U.S. Forces Korea,[106] and the chief of the National Guard Bureau.[107] Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limit, including the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[108] Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the President's discretion during time of war or national emergency.[109]
Four-star grades go hand-in-hand with the positions of office they are linked to, so these ranks are temporary. Officers may only achieve four-star grade if they are appointed to positions of office that require and/or allow the officer to hold such a rank.[110] Their rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is usually set by statute.[110] Four-star officers are nominated for appointment by the president from any eligible officers holding a one-star grade or above, who also meets the other requirements for the position, under the advice and/or suggestion of their respective executive department secretary, service secretary, and if applicable the joint chiefs.[110] The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.[110] The Senate (normally in committee)[g] may hold hearings to consider any nominee for appointment or reappointment to four-star grade,[111] but usually only convene for nominations of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vice chairman, service chiefs,[h] unified combatant commanders, and the commander of U.S. Forces Korea.
It is extremely unusual for a four-star nominee to draw even token opposition in a Senate vote, either in committee or on the floor, because the administration usually withdraws or declines to submit nominations that draw controversy before or during the confirmation process.
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When a doomed nomination is not withdrawn, the Senate typically does not hold a vote to reject the candidate, but instead allows the nomination to expire without action at the end of the legislative session.
Additionally, events that take place after confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office, necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate.
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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.[110] 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 U.S. Department of Defense.[131] Due to the limited number of four-star slots available, significant changes occur on average every four to five years.
The existing commander of a lower-level command or office elevated to four-star rank can be appointed to grade in their present position, reassigned to another office of equal grade, or face retirement if another nominee is selected as their relief.
A lower level billet may be elevated to four-star grade, in accordance to being designated as a position of importance, to highlight importance to the defense apparatus as a whole or achieve parity with equivalent commands in the same area of responsibility or service branch.
The standard tour length for most four-star positions is three years, bundled as a two-year term plus a one-year extension, with the following exceptions:
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.[143][144] Four-star ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare.
Other than voluntary retirement, statute sets a number of mandates for retirement. Regular four-star officers must retire after 40 years of active commissioned service unless reappointed to grade to serve longer.[146] Reserve four-star officers must retire after five years in grade or 40 years of commissioned service, whichever is later, unless reappointed to grade to serve longer.[147] Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday.[148] However, the secretary of defense can defer a four-star officer's retirement until the officer's 66th birthday[148] and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday.[148] Officers that served several years in the enlisted ranks prior to receiving their commission typically don't make it to the 40 years of commissioned service mark, because they are still subject to the age restrictions for retirement.
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. Since there are a finite number of four-star slots available to each service, typically one officer must leave office before another can be promoted.[149] Maintaining a four-star rank is like a game of musical chairs; once an officer vacates a position bearing that rank, he or she has no more than 60 days to be appointed or reappointed to a position of equal or greater importance before he or she is expected to retire.[110] Historically, officers leaving 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 four-star grade, an officer must accumulate at least three years of satisfactory active-duty service in that grade, as determined by the secretary of defense.[150] The president and Congress must also receive certification by the secretary of defense that the retiree served satisfactorily in grade.[150] The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years, and the president may waive this requirement altogether, but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct.[150][151] Four-star officers who do not meet the service-in-grade requirement will revert to the next highest grade in which they served satisfactorily for at least six months which is normally the three-star grade.[150] Since three-star ranks are also temporary, if the retiree is also not certified by the secretary of defense or the president to retire as a three-star, the retiree will retire at the last permanent rank he or she satisfactorily held for six months.[150] The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade.[i] It is rare for a four-star officer not to be certified to retire in grade or for the Senate to seek final approval.
Four-star 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.[150][160]
Furthermore, retired four-star officers may still be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and disciplinary action, including reduction in retirement rank, by the secretary of defense or the president if they are deemed to have served unsatisfactorily in rank, post-retirement.[164]
Four-star officers 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.
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