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.
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Australia
In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice Admiral is held by the Chief of Navy (currently VADM Russ Shalders) and by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Joint Operations and/or Chief of the Capability Development Executive (recently appointed VADM Matt Tripovich) if they are Navy officers. Vice Admiral is the equivalent of Air Marshal in the Royal Australian Air Force and Lieutenant General in the Australian Army.
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.
 Dress uniform tunic |
 Uniform shirts |
 Shoulder board for short sleeve shirt or tropical white tunic |
 arid-region CADPAT uniform |
A Vice-Admiral generally holds only the most senior command or administrative appointments, barring only Chief of Defence Staff, which is held by a full Admiral or General. Appointments held by Vice-Admirals may include Vice-Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS); Deputy Chief of 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 August 30, 2006) held by Vice-Admirals are:
- Chief of the Maritime Staff (CMS): Vice-Admiral Drew W. Robertson, OMM, MSC, CD[1]
- Chief Military Personnel: Vice-Admiral Gregory E. Jarvis, CMM, CD[2]
- Canadian Military Representative to the Military Committee at NATO Headquarters: Vice-Admiral Glenn V. Davidson, CMM, CD[3]
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Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
France
In France, vice-amiral is the most senior of the ranks in the French Navy; higher ranks, vice-amiral d'escadre and amiral, are permanents function, style and position (in french rang et appellation) given to a vice-amiral-ranking officer. The vice-amiral rank used to be an OF-8 rank in NATO charts, but nowadays, it is more an OF-7 rank. The rank of vice-amiral d'escadre (literally, "Squadron Vice-Admiral", with more precision, "Fleet Vice-Admiral") equals a NATO OF-8 rank.
 Pennant of a French vice-amiral. |
 Shoulder insignia |
Italy
In Italy, the equivalent to Vice Admiral is the Ammiraglio di Squadra.
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, and that of Vice-Admiral of the Coast, a now obsolete office dealing with naval administration in each of the maritime counties.
 Royal Navy Vice-Admiral sleeve/shoulder insignia |
 Royal Navy Vice-Admiral shoulder board |
 Royal Navy Vice-Admiral command flag |
United States Armed Forces & Uniformed Services
See also
Officer ranks of the  British Armed Forces |
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| Student Officer | OF(D) | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6 | OF-7 | OF-8 | OF-9 | OF-10 | ||
| Royal Navy: | Mid | SLt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | Adm of the Fleet | ||
| Royal Marines: | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | |||
| Army: | OCdt | 2Lt | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | FM | |
| Royal Air Force: | OC | APO / Plt Off | Fg Off | Flt Lt | Sqn Ldr | Wg Cdr | Gp Capt | Air Cdre | AVM | Air Mshl | Air Chf Mshl | MRAF | |
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O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 | Special (wartime only) |
Special (post war honor only) |
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| Army: | CDT/OC | 2LT | 1LT | CPT | MAJ | LTC | COL | BG | MG | LTG | GEN | GA | General of the Armies |
| Marine Corps: | Midn | 2ndLt | 1stLt | Capt | Maj | LtCol | Col | BGen | MajGen | LtGen | Gen | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
| Navy: | MIDN/OC | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | FADM | Admiral of the Navy |
| Air Force: | Cadet (CDT)/OT | 2nd Lt | 1st Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig Gen | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | Gen of the Air Force |
(no equivalent) |
| Coast Guard: | CDT | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
| PHSCC: | (no equivalent) | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
| NOAA Corps: | (no equivalent) | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) | (no equivalent) |
