Vice admiral (abbreviated as VADM) is the second-highest active rank of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It is a three-star rank, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British rank of vice admiral. The rank is held by the Chief of Navy and, when the positions are held by navy officers, by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, the Chief of Joint Operations, the Chief of Joint Capabilities, or equivalent position.
Vice admiral is a higher rank than rear admiral, but lower than admiral. Vice admiral is the equivalent of air marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force and lieutenant general in the Australian Army.
Since the mid-1990s, the insignia of a Royal Australian Navy vice admiral is the Crown of St. Edward above a crossed sabre and baton, above three silver stars, above the word "AUSTRALIA". The stars have eight points as in the equivalent Royal Navy insignia. Prior to 1995, the RAN shoulder board was identical to the British shoulder board.
List of vice admirals
The following people have held the rank of vice admiral in the Royal Australian Navy:
Name Year of promotion Senior command(s) or appointment(s) in rank Notes 1922 1922 Third Naval Member (1911–22) * 1932 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1931–37) 1950 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1948–55) 1955 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1955–59) 1959 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1959–62) 1962 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1962–65) 1965 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1965–68) * 1968 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1968–70) 1970 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1970–73) 1973 First Naval Member and Chief of Staff (1973–76) * 1976 Chief of Naval Staff (1976–79) 1979 Chief of Naval Staff (1979–82) 1982 Chief of Naval Staff (1982–85) * 1985 Chief of Naval Staff (1985–91) 1987 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1987–89) * 1989 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1989–92) 1991 Chief of Naval Staff (1991–94) 1991 Chief of Naval Staff (1994–97) 1995 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1995–97) 1997 Chief of Navy (1997–99) * 1997 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (1997–98) 1999 Chief of Navy (1999–2002) 2002 Chief of Navy (2002–05) 2002 Chief of Navy (2005–08), Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05) 2007 Chief Capability Development Group (2007–10) 2008 Chief of Navy (2008–11) 2011 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2014–18), Chief of Navy (2011–14) 2011 Chief Capability Development Group (2011–14) * 2014 Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2018–24), Chief of Joint Operations (2014–18) 2014 Chief of Navy (2014–18) 2018 Chief of Navy (2018–22) 2019 Deputy Commander United Nations Command (2019–21) ^ 2020 Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency (2023–), Chief of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Task Force (2021–23), Chief of Joint Capabilities (2020–21) * 2022 Chief of Navy (2022–26) ^ 2024 Chief of Joint Operations (2024–) ^ 2026 Chief of Navy (2026–)
See also Ranks of the Royal Australian Navy Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia
Notes
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