Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to
Lieutenant General in seniority. A Vice Admiral is typically senior to a
Rear Admiral and junior to an
Admiral.
In the
Canadian Navy, the rank of
Vice-Admiral (VAdm) (
Vice-amiral or
Vam in
French) is equal to a
Lieutenant General of the
Canadian Army or
Canadian Air Force. A Vice-Admiral is a
Flag Officer, the naval equivalent of a
General Officer. A Vice-Admiral is senior to a
Rear-Admiral or
Major General, and junior to an
Admiral or
General.
The rank insignia for a Vice-Admiral is three gold maple leaves, beneath crossed sword and baton, all surmounted by St. Edward's Crown, worn on the shoulder straps of the Service Dress tunic, and on slip-ons on other uniforms. The Service Dress tunic also features a wide strip of
gold braid around the cuff. On the visor of the service cap are two rows of gold oak leaves.
Vice-Admirals are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Vice-Admirals are normally entitled to
staff cars; the car will normally bear a flag, dark blue with three gold maple leaves arranged one over two.
A Vice-Admiral generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only
Chief of the Defence Staff, which is held by a full
Admiral or
General. Appointments held by Vice-Admirals may include Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS); Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS); Commander of an operational command (such as
Canada Command); Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS); Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Defence in various capacities; or commander of or representative to a multinational force, alliance, or treaty organization. Positions currently (as of
July 16,
2006) held by Vice-Admirals are:
* Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS): Vice Admiral
Ronald D. Buck, CMM, CD
* Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS): Vice-Admiral
Drew W. Robertson, OMM, MSC, CD
* Chief Military Personnel: Vice-Admiral
Gregory E. Jarvis, CMM, CD
* Canadian Military Representative to the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters: Vice-Admiral
Glenn V. Davidson, CMM, CD
In the
Royal Navy the rank of Vice Admiral should be distinguished from the office of
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, which is an
Admiralty position usually held by a retired full Admiral.
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Insignia of a United States Vice Admiral |
In the
United States Navy, Vice Admirals generally command the numbered fleets around the world that make up the
naval components of each of the regional
unified commands. Of the five numbered fleets, four have command ships which act as the Vice Admiral's
flagship. American Vice Admirals fly a blue flag with three white stars as a command flag.
In the
United States Coast Guard, the Vice Commandant, the Chief of Staff, and the Atlantic and Pacific Area commanders hold the rank of Vice Admiral.
*
Comparative Military Ranks*
U.S. Navy Officer Rank Insignia
