List of US military leaders by rank

Only those with a rank of 5 stars or above are listed. The highest rank currently held by anyone in the military is 4 stars (Generals & Admirals). There are dozens serving with this rank at the present time. It is unlikely that anyone will be given a higher rank anytime in the near future.

Listed by rank then seniority (date appointed to the rank)

Order	Rank	Name	Date	Active Service
1	General of the Armies of the United States	George Washington*	see notes	American Revolution
2	Admiral of the Navy	George Dewey	1899	Spanish-American War
2	General of the Armies of the United States	John J. Pershing	1919	World War I
3	General of the Army	Ulysses S. Grant	July 25, 1866	American Civil War
3	General of the Army	William T. Sherman	4 March 1869	American Civil War
3	General of the Army	Philip H. Sheridan	1 June 1888	American Civil War
3	Fleet Admiral	William D. Leahy	15 December 1944	World War II
3	General of the Army	George C. Marshall	16 December 1944	World War II
3	Fleet Admiral	Ernest J. King	17 December 1944	World War II
3	General of the Army	Douglas MacArthur	18 December 1944	World War II
3	Fleet Admiral	Chester W. Nimitz	19 December 1944	World War II
3	General of the Army	Dwight D. Eisenhower	20 December 1944	World War II
3	General of the Air Force	Henry H. Arnold#	May 7, 1949	World War II
3	Fleet Admiral	William F. Halsey	11 December 1945	World War II
3	General of the Army	Omar Bradley	20 September 1950	World War II

The ranks General of the Armies and Admiral of the Navy (held by the top three on this list) have only ever been essentially honorary ranks as all three were given these ranks after their service.

* George Washington was posthumously appointed General of the Armies of the United States in 1976, at which time Congress specified that he would forever be considered the highest ranking military officer of the United States. Where he would rank otherwise is debatable. While ranked only a Lieutenant General during the American Revolutionary War, he was the most senior officer and the only Lieutenant General in the army. The same is true of Ulysses S. Grant, who was made the second person to permanently hold this rank on March 2, 1864. All Civil War Generals till that time (including the commanding) were ranked Major General. Grant's appointment was done with caution; if he performed poorly as commander of all the armies of the United States, it would be difficult to remove and replace him with another—as had been done previous commanders in the Civil War—as all other Generals would in fact be of a lower rank than Grant. George Washington was in fact considered "commander in chief" of the Continental Army, a title that since the adoption of the constitution has been reserved for the (civilian) President alone.

Robert E. Lee was made 'general-in-chief' of Confederate forces on January 31, 1865.

# Henry H. Arnold was made General of the Army on December 21, 1944. The Air Force was created in 1947 and Arnold was made the first and so far only General of the Air Force on May 7, 1949.