admirals

An admiral is a senior naval officer rank used in many navies. In most contemporary armed forces, admiral is a four‑star, or four silver‑star, rank ranking above vice admiral and below a five‑star rank such as admiral of the fleet or fleet admiral. Some navies designate the highest wartime or ceremonial rank as five‑star. In some countries, admiral may be the highest peacetime rank, while in others the five‑star rank is ceremonial or used only in specific periods.

Responsibilities typically include command responsibilities at fleet, regional or theater levels, or senior staff positions such as chief of naval operations or chief of the navy. They may oversee strategy, training, logistics, and international naval diplomacy, and they may serve as heads of service branches or joint commands.

The term derives from the Middle Ages, from Arabic emir al-bahr "commander of the sea"; via Italian ammiraglio and French amiral into English. It has been used since early modern times to denote senior flag officers who command fleets. Insignia and naming vary by nation, but the concept remains a top-tier flag officer.

Notable admirals include both historical and modern figures such as Horatio Nelson, Chester W. Nimitz, and Isoroku Yamamoto.