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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.

Canada


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

United Kingdom


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.

United States


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.

See also


Military ranks | Military ranks of Canada | Military ranks of the United Kingdom | Military ranks of the United States Navy

Viceadmiral | Vizeadmiral | Vice-amiral | Viseadmiral | Viceadmiral | Viceamiral

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Vice Admiral".

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