<P> There have been 263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy . Of these , 222 achieved that rank while on active duty , 40 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations , and one was promoted posthumously . Admirals entered the Navy via several paths : 232 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy ( USNA ) , 17 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps ( NROTC ) , 8 via Officer Candidate School ( OCS ) , 2 via warrant , 1 via the Naval Aviation Cadet ( NAVCAD ) Program , 2 via Aviation Officer Candidate School ( AOCS ) and 1 via the U.S. Merchant Marine . </P>
<P> There have been 263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy . Of these , 222 achieved that rank while on active duty , 40 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations , and one was promoted posthumously . Admirals entered the Navy via several paths : 232 were commissioned via the U.S. Naval Academy ( USNA ) , 17 via Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps ( NROTC ) , 8 via Officer Candidate School ( OCS ) , 2 via warrant , 1 via the Naval Aviation Cadet ( NAVCAD ) Program , 2 via Aviation Officer Candidate School ( AOCS ) and 1 via the U.S. Merchant Marine . </P>
number of 4 star admirals in the navy
number of 4 star admirals in the navy
263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy
263 four - star admirals in the history of the U.S. Navy