▁some ▁comment ators ▁proposed ▁that ▁the ▁military ▁leader ▁in ▁the ▁Global ▁War ▁on ▁T error ism ▁be ▁promoted ▁to ▁a ▁five - star ▁rank . ▁ ▁R anks ▁senior ▁to ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁ ▁The ▁only ▁United ▁States ▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁ranks ▁senior ▁to ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁is ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Arm ies ▁and ▁Admir al ▁of ▁the ▁Navy . ▁The ▁General ▁of ▁the ▁Arm ies ▁rank ▁has ▁been ▁held ▁only ▁twice ▁in ▁United ▁States ▁history , ▁both ▁times ▁by ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁officers ▁( John ▁J . ▁Pers hing ▁and ▁George ▁Washington , ▁respectively ) ▁and ▁then ▁only ▁once ▁on ▁active ▁duty ▁( Pers hing ). ▁No ▁Air ▁Force ▁officer ▁has ▁ever ▁been ▁promoted ▁to ▁a ▁six - star ▁position , ▁although ▁Congress ▁retain s ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁do ▁so . ▁ ▁When ▁O mar ▁Brad ley ▁died ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁Congress ▁sent ▁a ▁letter ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Institute ▁of ▁Her ald ry ▁request ing ▁to ▁know ▁the ▁feas ibility ▁of ▁prom oting ▁Brad ley ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁six - star ▁general , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁request ing ▁clar ification ▁as ▁to ▁the ▁procedure ▁should ▁a ▁United ▁States ▁Navy ▁or ▁Air ▁Force ▁officer ▁ever ▁be ▁promoted ▁to ▁six - star ▁rank . ▁The ▁response ▁to ▁Congress ▁stated : ▁" Should ▁an ▁officer ▁of ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁or ▁Navy ▁be ▁promoted ▁to ▁six ▁star ▁rank , ▁that ▁officer ▁should ▁be ▁entitled ▁to ▁the ▁six ▁star ▁ins ign ia ▁with ▁a ▁service ▁specific