The United States Navy is the largest in the world. Like other branches of the military, it is highly organized by a vast hierarchical structure. Even for military personnel in other branches of ...

This article was originally published with the title “ Rank of the United States Among the Naval Powers ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 105 No. 24 (December 1911), p. 522 doi:10.1038 ...

The Navy rank structure is similar to the Coast Guard. Company Grade Officers (O-1 through O-4): O-1s and O-2s are often in schools for training, or serving in the fleet as Division Officers.

In 1862, David Farragut was the first rear admiral in the United States Navy. In 1864, President Lincoln named him the first vice admiral. In 1866, he was named the Navy's first full admiral.