rear admiral
Fleet officer rank
Rear admiral is a naval rank above commodore and below vice admiral, typically the lowest grade of admiral.
The name derives from the position commanding the rear squadron of a fleet in the age of sail.
In the U.S.
Navy, rear admiral is divided into two grades: lower half (one star) and upper half (two stars).
One-star naval officer
- captainOne who commands
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- flag officerHigh-ranking naval commander
- lieutenantJunior commissioned officer
ensign · one-star · promotion · commissioned · midshipman · cadet · officer · advancement
Armed naval vessel
- destroyerOne that ruins completely
- carrierOne that transports
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- frigateMedium-sized naval warship
cruiser · battleship · flotilla · convoy · maritime · seafaring · navigation · admiralty
Identical throughout
- starsLuminous celestial bodies
- shoulder boardsUniform rank markers
- epaulettesOrnamental shoulder insignia
- medalMetal honor token
ribbon · service stripes · dress whites · dress blues · gold braid · anchor · oak leaf · decoration
Commander's principal vessel
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- fleet commandAuthority over naval forces
- task forceTemporary goal-oriented team
battle group · squadron · operations · strategy · tactics · coordination · direction · oversight
Formal authority hierarchy
- superiorHigher in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- senior officerHigh-ranking commissioned leader
- junior officerLow-ranking commissioned military member
staff · aide-de-camp · chief of staff · fleet commander · naval command · reporting · protocol · salute
commodore
One-star naval officer
- captainOne who commands
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- flag officerHigh-ranking naval commander
lieutenant · ensign · one-star · promotion · commissioned · midshipman · cadet · officer · advancement · seniority
warship
Armed naval vessel
frigate · cruiser · battleship · flotilla · convoy · maritime · seafaring · navigation · admiralty · navy
uniform
Identical throughout
- starsLuminous celestial bodies
- shoulder boardsUniform rank markers
- epaulettesOrnamental shoulder insignia
medal · ribbon · service stripes · dress whites · dress blues · gold braid · anchor · oak leaf · decoration · commendation
flagship
Commander's principal vessel
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- fleet commandAuthority over naval forces
task force · battle group · squadron · operations · strategy · tactics · coordination · direction · oversight · delegation
chain of command
Formal authority hierarchy
- superiorHigher in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- senior officerHigh-ranking commissioned leader
junior officer · staff · aide-de-camp · chief of staff · fleet commander · naval command · reporting · protocol · salute
- militarysoldiers, army, troops, officers, navy
- military termsarmy, navy, air force, marines, soldier
- Navybattleship, destroyer, aircraft carrier, cruiser, carrier
- US Navynavy, fleet, sailor, submarine, destroyer
- commanderscommander in chief, commanding general, general, commodore, colonel
- leadership rankscommander, general, colonel, major, lieutenant
rear admiralfleet admiral
Top naval officer grade
admiral · ensign · midshipman · vice admiral · naval cadet
rear admiralseaman
One who works ships
able seaman · petty officer · civilian · rating · chief petty officer
rear, admiral, admirals, rearward, vice admiral, fleet admiral