List of active duty United States three-star officers

Three-star reserve officers and the chief of the National Guard Bureau testify before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on April 17, 2018.

There are currently 164 active-duty three-star officers in the uniformed services of the United States: 51 in the Army, 18 in the Marine Corps, 38 in the Navy, 45 in the Air Force, 6 in the Space Force, 4 in the Coast Guard, 1 in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, 0 in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, and 1 in the Maritime Service.

List of designated three-star positions[]

Department of Defense[]

Office of the Secretary of Defense[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Direct reporting officers
	Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense		Lieutenant General Randy A. George	U.S. Army
National intelligence agencies
	Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)		Lieutenant General Scott D. Berrier	U.S. Army
	Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)		Vice Admiral Robert D. Sharp Retiring[1]	U.S. Navy
Defense Agencies
	Director, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)		Lieutenant General David G. Bassett	U.S. Army
	Director, Defense Health Agency (DHA)		Lieutenant General Ronald J. Place	U.S. Army
	Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DoDIN)		Lieutenant General Robert J. Skinner	U.S. Air Force
	Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)		Vice Admiral Michelle C. Skubic	U.S. Navy
	Director, Missile Defense Agency (MDA)		Vice Admiral Jon A. Hill	U.S. Navy

Joint Staff[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Office of the Joint Staff
	Director of the Joint Staff (DJS)		Lieutenant General Andrew P. Poppas	U.S. Army
	Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (ACJCS)		Vice Admiral Colin J. Kilrain	U.S. Navy
Joint Staff directorates
	Director for Intelligence (J-2), Joint Staff		Vice Admiral Frank D. Whitworth III	U.S. Navy
	Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff		Lieutenant General James J. Mingus	U.S. Army
	Director for Logistics (J-4), Joint Staff		Lieutenant General Sam C. Barrett	U.S. Air Force
	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 Lisa M. Franchetti	U.S. Navy
	Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers and Cyber and Chief Information Officer (J-6), Joint Staff		Lieutenant General Dennis A. Crall	U.S. Marine Corps
	Director for Joint Force Development (J-7), Joint Staff		Vice Admiral Stuart B. Munsch	U.S. Navy
	Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J-8), Joint Staff		Vice Admiral Ronald A. Boxall	U.S. Navy

Unified Combatant Commands[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Unified combatant commands
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM)		Lieutenant General Kirk W. Smith	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)		Vice Admiral James J. Malloy	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)		Lieutenant General Charles L. Moore Jr.	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM)		Lieutenant General Michael L. Howard	U.S. Army
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)		Lieutenant General Stephen D. Sklenka	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and Vice Commander, U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)		Lieutenant General A.C. Roper Jr.	U.S. Army
	Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)		Lieutenant General Andrew A. Croft	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)		Lieutenant General John E. Shaw	U.S. Space Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)		Vice Admiral Collin P. Green	U.S. Navy
	Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)		Vacant
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)		Lieutenant General Thomas A. Bussiere	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)		Vice Admiral Dee L. Mewbourne	U.S. Navy

Other joint positions[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
National Guard
	Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau (VCNGB)		Lieutenant General Marc H. Sasseville	U.S. Air Force
Sub-unified commands
	Alaska Commander, Alaskan Command (ALCOM) and Commander, Eleventh Air Force (11 AF)		Lieutenant General David A. Krumm	U.S. Air Force
	Japan Commander, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and Commander, Fifth Air Force (5 AF)		Lieutenant General Ricky N. Rupp	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, U.S. Special Operations Command		Lieutenant General Bryan P. Fenton	U.S. Army
Special activities (domestic)
	Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC)		Lieutenant General Michael S. Groen	U.S. Marine Corps
	President, National Defense University (NDU)		Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn	U.S. Air Force
	Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office		Lieutenant General Eric T. Fick	U.S. Air Force
	Director's Advisor for Military Affairs, Office of the Director of National Intelligence		Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Kruse	U.S. Air Force
	Associate Director for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency		Lieutenant General John D. Caine	U.S. Air Force
Special activities (international)
	Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee (DCMC)		Lieutenant General Lance K. Landrum	U.S. Air Force
	U.S. Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP)		Lieutenant General E. John Deedrick Jr.	U.S. Army
	Commander, NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ)		Lieutenant General Antonio M. Fletcher	U.S. Army
	Commander, Allied Land Command (LANDCOM)		Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr.	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development, Headquarters Allied Command Transformation (ACT)		Lieutenant General David J. Julazadeh	U.S. Air Force
	Israel United States Security Coordinator, Israel-Palestinian Authority		Lieutenant General Michael R. Fenzel	U.S. Army

Department of the Army[]

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 L. Neil Thurgood	U.S. Army
	Military Deputy for Budget to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)		Lieutenant General Paul A. Chamberlain	U.S. Army
	Inspector General of the United States Army (IG)		Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin	U.S. Army

United States Army[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Army Staff
	Director of the Army Staff		Lieutenant General Walter E. Piatt	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1)		Lieutenant General Gary M. Brito	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2)		Lieutenant General Laura A. Potter	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7)		Lieutenant General James E. Rainey	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4)		Vacant	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber Operations and Networks (G-6)		Lieutenant General John B. Morrison Jr.	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs (G-8)		Lieutenant General Erik C. Peterson	U.S. Army
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations (G-9)		Lieutenant General Jason T. Evans	U.S. Army
Judge Advocate General's Corps
	Judge Advocate General of the United States Army (TJAG) and Dean, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School		Lieutenant General Stuart W. Risch	U.S. Army
Army commands (and subordinated units)
	Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)		Lieutenant General Paul T. Calvert	U.S. Army
	Chief of the United States Army Reserve (CAR) and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC)		Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) and Deputy Commanding General for Combat Development, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC)		Lieutenant General James M. Richardson Acting	U.S. Army
	Deputy Commanding General for Acquisition and Systems Management, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) and Director, Combat Systems Directorate (CSD)		Lieutenant General Thomas H. Todd III	U.S. Army
	Deputy Commanding General for Futures and Concepts, U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC) and Director, Futures and Concepts Center (FCC)		Lieutenant General D. Scott McKean	U.S. Army
	Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) and Senior Commander, Redstone Arsenal		Lieutenant General Flem B. Walker Jr.	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM)		Lieutenant General Douglas M. Gabram	U.S. Army
	Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)		Lieutenant General Maria R. Gervais	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (USACAC), Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) Executive Vice Chancellor, Army University (ArmyU) and Commanding General, Fort Leavenworth		Lieutenant General Theodore D. Martin	U.S. Army
Army service component commands
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and Commanding General, Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC)		Lieutenant General Ronald P. Clark	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER)		Lieutenant General Stephen G. Fogarty Retiring[2]	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) and Senior Commander, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis		Lieutenant General John R. Evans Jr.	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)		Lieutenant General Jonathan P. Braga	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense (JFCC IMD)[3]		Lieutenant General Daniel L. Karbler	U.S. Army
Direct reporting units
	Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Corps (AAC)		Lieutenant General Robert L. Marion	U.S. Army
	United States Army Chief of Engineers (COE) and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)		Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon	U.S. Army
	Surgeon General of the United States Army (TSG), Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) and Chief, Army Medical Department (AMEDD)		Lieutenant General R. Scott Dingle	U.S. Army
	Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA)		Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams	U.S. Army
Operating forces
	Commanding General, First Army		Lieutenant General Antonio A. Aguto Jr.	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff, ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC)		Lieutenant General Willard M. Burleson III	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, I Corps and Commanding General, Joint Base Lewis-McChord		Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, III Corps and Commanding General, Fort Hood		Lieutenant General Robert P. White	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, V Corps		Lieutenant General John S. Kolasheski	U.S. Army
	Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps and Commanding General, Fort Bragg		Lieutenant General Christopher T. Donahue	U.S. Army
Army National Guard
	Director, Army National Guard (ARNG)		Lieutenant General Jon A. Jensen	U.S. Army
In transit
			Lieutenant General Michael E. Kurilla Promotable	U.S. Army
Suspended
			Lieutenant General Duane A. Gamble	U.S. Army

Department of the Navy[]

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 Francis D. Morley	U.S. Navy
	Naval Inspector General (NAVIG) and Special Assistant for Inspection Support (N09G)		Vice Admiral John V. Fuller	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 Darse E. Crandall Jr.	U.S. Navy

United States Marine Corps[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Headquarters Marine Corps
	Director of the Marine Corps Staff (DMCS)		Lieutenant General Gregg P. Olson	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC M&RA)		Lieutenant General David A. Ottignon	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (DC, PP&O)		Lieutenant General David J. Furness	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA)		Lieutenant General Mark R. Wise	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (DC I&L)		Lieutenant General Edward D. Banta	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I) and Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC)		Lieutenant General Karsten S. Heckl	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (DC P&R)		Lieutenant General Christopher J. Mahoney	U.S. Marine Corps
	Deputy Commandant for Information (DCI) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command (MARFORSTRAT)		Lieutenant General Matthew G. Glavy	U.S. Marine Corps
Supporting establishment
	Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM)		Lieutenant General Kevin M. Iiams	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 Michael E. Langley	U.S. Marine Corps
	Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF)		Lieutenant General William M. Jurney	U.S. Marine Corps
	Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPAC)		Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder	U.S. Marine Corps
	Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF)		Lieutenant General George W. Smith Jr.	U.S. Marine Corps
	Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and Commander, Marine Forces Japan (MARFORJ)		Lieutenant General James W. Bierman Jr.	U.S. Marine Corps
Marine Forces Reserve
	Commander, Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) and Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South (MARFORSOUTH)		Lieutenant General David G. Bellon	U.S. Marine Corps

United States Navy[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (N1/NT) and Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP)		Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr.	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (N2/N6) and Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI)		Vice Admiral Jeffrey E. Trussler	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5)		Vice Admiral William R. Merz	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4)		Vice Admiral Ricky L. Williamson	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development (N7)		Vice Admiral Jeffrey W. Hughes	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources (N8)		Vice Admiral Randy B. Crites	U.S. Navy
	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N9)		Vice Admiral Scott D. Conn	U.S. Navy
	Chief of Navy Reserve (N095) and Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF)		Vice Admiral John B. Mustin	U.S. Navy
Type commands
	Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) and Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC)		Vice Admiral Kenneth R. Whitesell	U.S. Navy
	Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR)		Vice Admiral Kelly A. Aeschbach	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),[4] Commander, Task Force 88 (CTF-88) and Commander, Task Force 46 (CTF-46)		Vice Admiral William J. Houston	U.S. Navy
	Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR) and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC)		Vice Admiral Roy I. Kitchener	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 James W. Kilby	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 Daniel W. Dwyer	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 Eugene H. Black III	U.S. Navy
	Commander, U.S. Third Fleet (C3F)		Vice Admiral Stephen T. Koehler	U.S. Navy
	Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (C7F)		Vice Admiral Karl O. Thomas	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 Charles B. Cooper II	U.S. Navy
	Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC), Commander, U.S. Tenth Fleet (C10F) and Commander, U.S. Navy Space Command (CNSC)		Vice Admiral Ross A. Myers	U.S. Navy
Shore establishment
	Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)		Vice Admiral William J. Galinis	U.S. Navy
	Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)		Vice Admiral Carl P. Chebi	U.S. Navy
	Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC)		Vice Admiral Yancy B. Lindsey	U.S. Navy
	Director for Strategic Systems Programs (SSP)		Vice Admiral Johnny R. Wolfe Jr.	U.S. Navy
	Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy (USNA)		Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck	U.S. Navy

Department of the Air Force[]

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 Duke Z. Richardson	U.S. Air Force
	Inspector General of the Department of the Air Force (DAF/IG)		Lieutenant General Stephen L. Davis	U.S. Air Force

United States Air Force[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Air Staff
	Director of Staff of the United States Air Force (AF/DS)		Lieutenant General Kevin B. Schneider	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services (A1)		Lieutenant General Brian T. Kelly Retiring[5]	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations (A2/6)		Lieutenant General Mary F. O'Brien	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (A3)		Lieutenant General Joseph T. Guastella Jr.	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (A4)		Lieutenant General Warren D. Berry	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements (A5)		Lieutenant General S. Clinton Hinote	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (A8)		Lieutenant General David S. Nahom	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration (A10)		Lieutenant General James C. Dawkins Jr.	U.S. Air Force
	United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (AF/JA)		Lieutenant General Jeffrey A. Rockwell Retiring[6]	U.S. Air Force
	Surgeon General of the United States Air Force (AF/SG) and Surgeon General of the United States Space Force (SF/SG)		Lieutenant General (Dr.) Robert I. Miller	U.S. Air Force
Direct reporting units
	Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)		Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark	U.S. Air Force
Air Force major commands (and subordinated units)
	Deputy Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC)		Lieutenant General Russell L. Mack	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, First Air Force (Air Forces Northern/AFNORTH) (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		Lieutenant General Kirk S. Pierce	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Ninth Air Force (9 AF), Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command		Lieutenant General Gregory M. Guillot	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber/AFCYBER) (16 AF) and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters – Cyber (JFHQ-C)		Lieutenant General Timothy D. Haugh	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Air Education and Training Command (AETC)		Lieutenant General Marshall B. Webb	U.S. Air Force
	Commander and President, Air University		Lieutenant General James B. Hecker	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command		Lieutenant General Mark E. Weatherington	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)		Lieutenant General Carl E. Schaefer	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Program Executive Officer for the Rapid Sustainment Office		Lieutenant General Shaun Q. Morris	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC)		Lieutenant General Tom D. Miller	U.S. Air Force
	Chief of Air Force Reserve (AF/RE) and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)		Lieutenant General Richard W. Scobee	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)		Lieutenant General James C. Slife	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, Air Mobility Command (AMC)		Lieutenant General Brian S. Robinson	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and Deputy Theater Air Component Commander to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command		Lieutenant General James A. Jacobson	U.S. Air Force
	Commander, Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF), Commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command (UNC), Commander, Air Component Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) and Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK)		Lieutenant General Scott L. Pleus	U.S. Air Force
	Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA)		Lieutenant General Steven L. Basham	U.S. Air Force
Air National Guard
	Director, Air National Guard (ANG)		Lieutenant General Michael A. Loh	U.S. Air Force

United States Space Force[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Space Staff
	Director of Staff of the United States Space Force (SF/DS)		Lieutenant General Nina M. Armagno	U.S. Space Force
	Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear (S2/3/4/6/7/10)		Lieutenant General B. Chance Saltzman	U.S. Space Force
	Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis (S5/8/9)		Lieutenant General William J. Liquori Jr.	U.S. Space Force
Field commands
	Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC)		Lieutenant General Stephen N. Whiting	U.S. Space Force
	Commander, Space Systems Command (SSC)		Lieutenant General Michael A. Guetlein	U.S. Space Force

Department of Homeland Security[]

United States Coast Guard[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Headquarters support units
	Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO)		Vice Admiral Scott A. Buschman	U.S. Coast Guard
	Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS)		Vice Admiral Paul F. Thomas	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 Steven D. Poulin	U.S. Coast Guard
	Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area (PACAREA) and Commander, Defense Force West		Vice Admiral Michael F. McAllister	U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Health and Human Services[]

United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Office of the Surgeon General
	Surgeon General of the United States (SG)		Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy	U.S. Public Health Service

Department of Commerce[]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
Office of the Director
	Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Director, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)		Currently held by a two-star admiral[7]	NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps

Department of Transportation[]

United States Maritime Service[]

Position insignia	Position	Photo	Incumbent	Service branch
United States Merchant Marine Academy
	Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)		Vice Admiral Joachim J. Buono	U.S. Maritime Service

List of pending appointments[]

Awaiting reassignment[]

Current position	Designated position insignia	Designated position	Photo	Name	Service branch	Status and date
Joint assignments
Director for Intelligence (J-2), Joint Staff		Director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)		Vice Admiral Frank D. Whitworth III	U.S. Navy	Confirmed by the Senate 2 February 2022[8][9]
Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division and Commanding General, Fort Riley		Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff		Major General Douglas A. Sims II	U.S. Army	Confirmed by the Senate 17 February 2022[10][11]
United States Army
Director of Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4)		Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4)		Major General Charles R. Hamilton	U.S. Army	Confirmed by the Senate 2 February 2022[12]
Commanding General, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)		Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER)		Major General Maria B. Barrett	U.S. Army	Nomination sent to the Senate 6 December 2021[13][14]
Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff		TBA		Lieutenant General James J. Mingus	U.S. Army	Nomination sent to the Senate 10 March 2022[15]
Director, Military Personnel Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1)		TBA		Major General Douglas F. Stitt	U.S. Army	Nomination sent to the Senate 2 February 2022[16]

Statutory limits[]

Lt. Gen. James M. Rockwell is pinned with his third star during his promotion ceremony at the Pentagon, June 29, 1984.

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 231 for the Army, 162 for the Navy, 198 for the Air Force, and 62 for the Marine Corps.^[17] From December 31, 2022, the cap will be reduced further to 220 for the Army, 151 for the Navy, 187 for the Air Force, and 62 for the Marine Corps.^[18] For the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, no more than about 21%^[19] of each service's active-duty general or flag officers may have more than two stars,^[20] and statute sets the total number of three-star officers allowed in each service.^[20] This is set at 38 three-star Army generals,^[20][21] 27 three-star Navy admirals,^[20][22] 30 three-star Air Force generals,^[20][23] 15 three-star Marine generals^[20][24] and 5 three-star Space Force generals.^[25]

Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, director of the Joint Staff, updates the media at a briefing on Operation Odyssey Dawn from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2011.

While a number of these positions are set by statute, most do not have the accompanying statutory three-star grade. By convention, however:

• For the Army, lieutenant generals constitute corps and field army commanders, deputy and assistant chiefs of staff of the Army staff,^[26] deputies of Army four-star commands, commanders of high-level geographic or component commands, the chief of Army reserve,^[27] as well as high-level specialty positions^[28] including the inspector general,^[29] surgeon general,^[30] and judge advocate general.^[31]
• For the Navy, vice admirals constitute commanders of numbered fleets,^[32] deputy chiefs of naval operations,^[33] deputies of Navy four-star commands, commanders of high-level geographic and component commands,^[32] and specialty positions such as the type commanders of naval air forces, naval submarine forces and naval surface forces, as well as the naval inspector general^[34] and judge advocate general.^[35]
• For the Air Force, lieutenant generals constitute commanders of large numbered air forces or major commands,^[36][37] deputy and assistant chiefs of staff of the Air staff,^[38] deputies of four-star major commands, the chief of Air Force Reserve,^[39] as well as the specialty positions of the inspector general,^[40] surgeon general^[41] and judge advocate general.^[42]
• For the Marine Corps, lieutenant generals constitute commanders of high-level geographic and functional Marine commands including the marine expeditionary forces,^[43] deputy commandants attached to Headquarters Marine Corps^[44] and commander of the Marine Forces Reserve.

Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting has his third star pinned on by his family during his promotion ceremony at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, October 21, 2020.

• For the Space Force, lieutenant generals constitute the deputy chiefs of staff of the Space Staff and commanders of high-level field commands.
• For the Coast Guard, vice admirals constitute the deputy commandants for operations and mission support,^[45] as well as the operational area commanders of the Atlantic and Pacific region.^[45] By statute, there may not be more than five three-star positions in the Coast Guard,^[46] and if there be five, one must be the chief of staff of the Coast Guard.^[46]
• For the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the surgeon general of the United States is a three-star vice admiral by statute, equivalent in grade to the surgeon general of the Army.^[47]

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 grade of vice admiral, with corresponding pay and allowance.^[46]

Exceptions[]

Exceptions exist that allow for the promotion of three-star officers beyond statutory limits. The secretary of defense can designate up to 49^[48] three-star officers,^[17] who do not count against any service's general- or flag-officer limit,^[17] to serve in one of several joint positions.^[49] For three-star officers, these may include senior positions on the Joint Staff such as the director of the Joint Staff,^[50] vice chief of the National Guard Bureau,^[51] and deputy commanders of unified combatant commands. Officers serving in certain intelligence positions are not counted against statutory limit, including the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency,^[52] associate director for military affairs of the Central Intelligence Agency,^[52] and the advisor for military affairs to the director of National Intelligence.^[49][52] The President may also add up to 15 three-star slots to one service if they are offset by removing an equivalent number from other services.^[20] Finally, all statutory limits may be waived at the President's discretion during time of war or national emergency.^[53]

Appointment[]

Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, testifies before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington D.C. on February 4, 2014.

Like four-star ranks, three-star ranks are temporary in nature, being tied to positions where the officeholder is authorized to assume said rank.^[54] The officeholder's rank expires with the expiration of their term of office, which is normally set by statute.^[54] The president nominates three-star officers from any eligible officers holding a one-star grade and 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.^[54] The nominee must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.^[54] The Senate (normally in committee^[55]) may hold hearings to consider any nominee for appointment to three-star grade,^[56] but usually only convene for nominations of selected four-star positions.

While it is rare for three-star or four-star 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.^[57]

Maj. Gen. Scott D. Berrier presents a Buffalo Soldier statue to Lt. Gen. Mary A. Legere, during the Intelligence Senior Leaders Conference (ISLC) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, December 9, 2015.

• For example, the nomination of Major General to be commanding general of U.S. Army Europe in 2017 was withdrawn^[58] after an investigation was launched into the general's inappropriate comment to a female Congressional staffer.^[59]
• Vice Admiral Elizabeth L. Train was once the leading candidate to be director of naval intelligence and deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare in 2015,^[60] but her nomination was withdrawn the following year^[60] due to controversy regarding her superior's suspected role in the Fat Leonard scandal.^[61]
• The President withdrew the nomination of Lieutenant General Susan J. Helms to become vice commander of the Air Force Space Command in 2013 after eight months of inaction in the Senate,^[62] owing to concerns^[63] about her overturning the ruling in a sexual assault case under her command.^[64][65]
• Lieutenant General Mary A. Legere was widely considered a leading candidate to succeed Michael T. Flynn as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, but her name was removed from consideration,^[66] following House backlash over her involvement in several controversial Army intelligence projects.^[67]
• Major General was withdrawn from consideration to become commanding general of Fifth Army in 1991,^[68][69] relating to a decision he made not to prosecute the two soldiers responsible for an artillery accident at his command of Fort Sill.^[70][71]
• Major General Joseph J. Taluto withdrew himself from consideration to succeed Clyde A. Vaughn as director of the Army National Guard in 2010,^[72] due to Senate inaction over his handling of the deaths of Phillip Esposito and Louis Allen.^[73][74]
• And Rear Admiral Elizabeth A. Hight's nomination to be director of the Defense Information Systems Agency in 2008 was withdrawn^[75] due to concerns about a possible conflict of interest with her husband, a retired Air Force general who was employed by a prominent Defense contractor.^[76]

Vice Adm. Scott Stearney (left) relieves Vice Adm. John C. Aquilino (right) as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command on May 6, 2018.

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.^[57][77]

• For example, the Senate declined to schedule a vote for Major General Charles M. Gurganus to be elevated to three-star rank in 2013^[78] and assigned as director of the Marine Corps staff,^[79] due to concerns of negligence leading to the September 2012 Camp Bastion raid.^[79][80]
• The nomination of Rear Admiral for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as deputy commandant for mission support of the Coast Guard in 2014^[81] was returned to the President,^[82] due to a hold from a senator who opposed the closure of two Coast Guard facilities in response to sequestration cuts.^[83]

Additionally, events that take place after Senate confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office, necessitating that another nominee be selected and considered by the Senate. Even after the nominee assumes command, various events can occur that alter his or her circumstances in holding the office.

• For example, Major General John G. Rossi, who had been confirmed for appointment as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in April 2016^[84][85] committed suicide two days before his scheduled promotion.^[86] As a result, the incumbent commander, Lieutenant General , remained in command beyond statutory term limits until another nominee, Major General James H. Dickinson was confirmed by the Senate.^[87]
• Vice Admiral Scott A. Stearney assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces in May 2018.^[88] His death in December 2018 resulted in the speedy confirmation^[89] of Rear Admiral James J. Malloy in the same month for appointment to three-star rank as his replacement.^[90]

Command elevation and reduction[]

Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Plewes (center), following his promotion ceremony, stands with living former chiefs of the Army Reserve on June 13, 2001.

Lt. Gen. Kevin M. Iiams stands at attention during the TECOM change of command ceremony on Aug. 2, 2021.

Air Force chief of staff Gen. Mark Welsh (left) is relieved as AETC commander by Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson (right) on July 21, 2015.

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.^[54] 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.^[91] Due to the higher number of three-star appointments available by statute compared to four-star appointments, shuffling of such billets within services and between services occurs at a relatively steady pace, with significant changes on average every two to three years, compared to those at four-star grade which shuffle on average every four to five years.

The existing commander of a lower-level command or office elevated to three-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.

• For example, Major General Scott C. Black became judge advocate general of the Army in October 2005. With the elevation of the office to three-star rank in 2008, Black was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general,^[92] and assumed said rank in December 2008.
• Vice Admiral Henry H. Mauz Jr., commander of U.S. Seventh Fleet, was dual-hatted as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in August 1990.^[93] The incumbent commander, Captain did not receive appointment to three-star grade and was thus reassigned as commander of the U.S. Naval Logistics Support Force under Mauz's command.^[94]

A two-star billet may be elevated to three-star level, 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 National Defense Authorization Act of 2001 elevated all service reserve and National Guard components to three-star level.^[95] Consequently, all affected components^[96] had their existing commanders promoted to three-star rank,^[97][98][99] or promoted the first commander assigned after passage of the Act to three-star rank.^[100][101]
• The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 elevated the office of vice chief of the National Guard Bureau to three-star level, achieving parity with the three-star directors of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Major General Joseph L. Lengyel was subsequently appointed^[102] to the grade of lieutenant general^[103] and assumed office on August 18, 2012.
• Headquarters Marine Corps Bulletin 5400^[104] directed the elevation of U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command to three-star level and transitioning it to a direct reporting unit responsible to the commandant of the Marine Corps.^[105] The incumbent commanding general, Major General William F. Mullen III, subsequently relinquished command to Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta on August 3, 2020.^[106]

A four-star billet may also be reduced to three-star level, usually to compensate for another billet being elevated to four-star level and thus remain within statutory limits. Congressional approval must be obtained if is determined that a new three-star appointment beyond statutory limits is necessary.

• For example, Air Education and Training Command, a four-star major command since 1975,^[107] was downgraded to three-star level to compensate for the elevation of Air Force Global Strike Command to four-star level, as congressional approval was required to bypass the authorized limit of nine four-star commands.^[108] Lieutenant General Darryl Roberson relieved General Robin Rand as AETC commander on July 21, 2015.^[109]
• U.S. Army Europe was a three-star command four separate times: from establishment to 1944; the tours of Lieutenant Generals Clarence R. Huebner in 1949 and Manton S. Eddy from 1952 to 1953; and after the deactivation of Seventh Army from 2011 to 2020. The final three-star general to command USAREUR was Lieutenant General Christopher G. Cavoli, who was promoted to general in 2020,^[110] with the consolidation of USAREUR and U.S. Army Africa into U.S. Army Europe and Africa.^[111]

Tour length[]

Incoming surgeon general Vivek Murthy is pinned with his vice admiral's rank insignia by his sister Rashimi as Vice President Joe Biden looks on at his swearing-in ceremony at Conmy Hall, April 22, 2015.

The standard tour length for a three-star officer is three years, specifically a two-year term with a one-year extension. Unlike with grade, many three-star positions do have stipulated term lengths in the U.S. Code, which may not necessarily equate to the standard term length:

• Deputy commanders of unified combatant commands, as a joint duty assignment, serve for one to two years.
• Inspectors general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force serve for a nominal four-year term.
• Judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force serve for a nominal four-year term.
• Three-star chiefs of service reserve components serve for a nominal four-year term in office, but may serve for up to eight years if reappointed to serve for a second term. Typically, a reserve component chief serves for two to three years.
• Three-star chiefs of Army branches,^[112] (except the judge advocate general) serve for a nominal four-year term.^[30]
• Heads of service academies^[113] serve for a nominal three-year term, though it is common for them to serve for four to five years.
• The surgeon general of the United States serves for a nominal four-year term.^[114]

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.^[115][116] Three-star ranks may also be given by act of Congress but this is extremely rare.

• Rear Admiral John D. Bulkeley was promoted to vice admiral on the retired list in the Senate by unanimous voice vote in 1988,^[117] in recognition of his years of service to the country, including the rescue of General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor that earned him the Medal of Honor.^[118]

Retirement[]

Gen. Mark A. Milley, Army chief of staff, presents Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen with a certificate authorizing his presentation of the Army Distinguished Service Medal at Caslen's relinquishment of command ceremony on June 22, 2018.

Lt. Gen. Ronald C. Marcotte (right), is presented his formal retirement certificate by Gen. John W. Handy (left), during his retirement ceremony held at Heritage Park on March 8, 2002.

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 grade to serve longer or appointed to a higher grade.^[119] 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 grade to serve longer.^[120] 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,^[121] which the secretary of defense may do for all active-duty officers,^[122] and the president can defer it until the officer's 68th birthday.^[122] Otherwise all general and flag officers must retire the month after their 64th birthday.^[122] 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. As holders of the second-highest grade, three-star officers rarely receive deferment to serve beyond their 64th birthday, a more common case for officers who are promoted to four-star rank.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark (left), delivers remarks at the retirement ceremony of Vice Adm. Patricia Tracey (center), as she listens in on September 2, 2004.

By statute, any three-star officer assigned as superintendent of the United States Military Academy,^[123] superintendent of the United States Naval Academy,^[124] and superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy^[125] must retire upon completion of their assignment,^{[126][124][127]} unless a waiver is granted by the secretary of defense^{[128][129][130]} with the approval of the House and Senate Armed Services committees,^{[128][129][130]} and a written notification of intent from the president to nominate the officer for reassignment.^{[128][129][130]}

• Lieutenant General Sidney Bryan Berry is the last superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy not subject to the mandates for retirement, serving as commanding general of V Corps from 1977 to 1980 after his tenure as superintendent from 1974 to 1976.^[131] His successor, General Andrew J. Goodpaster is the latest retired officer recalled to serve as superintendent, serving from 1977 to 1981.
• Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch is the last superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy not subject to the mandates for retirement, serving as director of the Navy staff from 1994 to 1995 after his tenure as superintendent from 1991 to 1994. His successor, Admiral Charles R. Larson is the last four-star admiral to serve as superintendent, from 1994 to 1998.^[132]
• Major General Robert E. Kelley is the last superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy not subject to the mandates for retirement, serving as the vice commander of Tactical Air Command from 1983 to 1986 after his tenure as superintendent from 1981 to 1983.

Outgoing Coast Guard vice commandant, Vice Adm. John P. Currier is thanked by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson at his retirement ceremony on May 20, 2014.

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 officers at grade before they either retire or are appointed to a higher grade.^[133] 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 grade, before involuntary retirement.^[54]

• For example, Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum was appointed as deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command in 2009. The incumbent deputy commander, Lieutenant General William G. Webster Jr., was appointed as commanding general of U.S. Army Central, whose incumbent commanding general, Lieutenant General James J. Lovelace Jr., received no further appointment and retired at the age of 60, with 39 years of service and six years in grade.
• Rear Admiral Ronald A. Route was promoted to vice admiral and appointed as naval inspector general in 2004. The incumbent inspector general, Vice Admiral Albert T. Church, was appointed as director of the Navy staff, whose incumbent director, Vice Admiral Patricia A. Tracey, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 52, with 34 years of service and six years in grade.
• Major General William H. Etter was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as commander of First Air Force in 2013. The incumbent commander, Lieutenant General Stanley E. Clarke III, was appointed as director of the Air National Guard, whose incumbent director, Lieutenant General Harry M. Wyatt III, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 63, with 42 years of service and four years in grade.
• Rear Admiral Steven D. Poulin was promoted to vice admiral and appointed as commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area in 2020. The incumbent commander, Vice Admiral Scott A. Buschman, was appointed as deputy commandant for operations; the incumbent deputy commandant, Vice Admiral Daniel B. Abel, received no further appointment and retired at the age of 59, with 37 years of service and two years in grade.

From left to right: Debbie Paxton; Lt. Gen. George J. Flynn; and the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., pose for a photo after Flynn's retirement ceremony, May 9, 2013.

A three-star officer may also be reduced to their permanent rank pending circumstances that delay appointment to another three-star position of importance. 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.

• For example, Lieutenant General Timothy J. Kadavy reverted to his permanent rank of major general while awaiting confirmation as vice chief of the National Guard Bureau in 2019,^[134] as he had not been assigned to another three-star position within 60 days of his relief as director of the Army National Guard.^[135] After his nomination was returned to the president without action,^[136] he was certified to retire as a lieutenant general in 2020.^[137]
• Vice Admiral John Poindexter reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral in 1986, as he was not appointed by the Senate to another three-star post within 90 days^[138] after resigning as national security advisor to the President due to controversy surrounding the Iran-Contra scandal,^[139] and was reassigned to the Navy staff^[140] until retirement in 1987. His request to retire as a vice admiral^[141] was deferred by the secretary of the Navy due to expected congressional opposition.^[140]

Lt. Gen. Lawson W. Magruder III accepts a shell casing from a U.S. Army military police honor guard officer at his retirement ceremony, February 27, 2003.

To retire at three-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.^[142] 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 grade.^[142] The secretary of defense may reduce this requirement to two years, but only if the officer is not being investigated for misconduct.^[143] The president may also reduce these requirements even further, or waive the requirements altogether, if he so chooses.^[142][143] Three-star officers who do not meet the service-in-grade requirement will retire at the last permanent rank he or she satisfactorily held for six months.^[142] The retiree may also be subject to congressional approval by the Senate before the retiree can retire in grade.^[144] 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.

• For example, Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft was certified by the Senate in 1975 to retire as a lieutenant general^[145] despite holding said rank for only a year as national security advisor to the President. Scowcroft could have been reappointed to grade to serve as national security advisor while on active duty, but instead held the office as a civilian.^[146]
• Lieutenant General Craig A. Franklin retired on April 1, 2014,^[147] with two years and two days in grade, in response to charges of partiality in overseeing cases of sexual assault in Third Air Force.^[148] Despite not being penalized for misconduct, his retirement before accumulating statutory time in grade resulted in his reduction to major general on the retired list.^[149]
• Lieutenant General Ronald F. Lewis was relieved as senior military assistant to the secretary of defense on November 12, 2015, with approximately four months in grade.^[150] He subsequently reverted to his permanent rank of major general^[151] pending an investigation by the Department of Defense inspector general^[152] for misconduct.^[153][154] His certification of satisfactory service as a major general was revoked,^[155] thus reducing his retirement rank to brigadier general.^[156]

Gen. Lew Allen, Air Force chief of staff, presents the Defense Distinguished Service Medal to Lt. Gen. Benjamin N. Bellis during his retirement ceremony on July 17, 1981.

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.^[142]

• For example, Lieutenant General relinquished his three-star command in 2018,^[157] but remained on active duty for over a year after his retirement ceremony^[158] in his permanent rank of major general^[159] pending an investigation by the Air Force inspector general,^[160] before being allowed to retire as a major general.^[161]
• Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller relinquished his three-star command as scheduled in 2014,^[162] but remained on active duty for almost a year in his permanent grade of rear admiral^[163] while under investigation for the Fat Leonard corruption scandal.^[164] He was permitted to retire at three-star grade after being censured by the secretary of the Navy.^[165]

Furthermore, all retired officers may still be subjected 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 their retirement.^[166]

• Lieutenant General , who retired from the Army as a lieutenant general, faced court martial and demotion^[167] nearly two years after his retirement date of February 1, 2006,^[168] for making false statements regarding the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident.^[169] He was allowed to retain his three-star rank^[170] after the secretary of the Army opted not to pursue the heavier punishment, instead issuing Kensinger an official reprimand and censure.^[170]

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.

• For example, Lieutenant General Donald C. Wurster was relieved as commander of Air Force Special Operations Command on June 24, 2011,^[171] and held his retirement ceremony the same day, but remained on active duty until his official retirement date on August 1, 2011.

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.

See also[]

• Lieutenant general (United States)
• Vice admiral (United States)
• List of active duty United States four-star officers
• List of active duty United States Army major generals
• List of active duty United States Marine Corps major generals
• List of active duty United States rear admirals
• List of active duty United States Air Force major generals
• List of active duty United States Space Force general officers
• List of active duty United States National Guard two-star generals
• List of active duty United States senior enlisted leaders and advisors
• List of lieutenant generals in the United States Army before 1960
• List of United States Army three-star generals since 2010
• List of United States Marine Corps three-star generals since 2010
• List of United States Navy vice admirals on active duty before 1960
• List of United States Navy three-star admirals since 2010
• List of lieutenant generals in the United States Air Force before 1960
• List of United States Air Force three-star generals since 2010
• List of United States Space Force three-star generals
• List of United States Coast Guard vice admirals
• List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps three-star admirals

References[]