Navy Ranks in Order: Enlisted, Warrant Officer, and Officer Insignia Chart

Navy enlisted ranks run from Seaman Recruit at E-1 to Master Chief Petty Officer at E-9. Sailors become petty officers, the Navy's noncommissioned officers, at E-4, and Chief Petty Officers from E-7 up lead sailors as the senior enlisted experts in their commands.

Navy Enlisted Ranks in Order (E-1 to E-9)

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
Junior Enlisted (E-1 to E-3)
E-1		Seaman Recruit SR	New sailor in boot camp or initial training.	Address as: Seaman
E-2		Seaman Apprentice SA	Junior sailor learning shipboard duties and Navy standards.	Address as: Seaman
E-3		Seaman SN	Junior sailor who performs tasks and trains toward a rating.	Address as: Seaman
Petty Officers (E-4 to E-6)
E-4		Petty Officer Third Class PO3	First petty officer grade; skilled sailor who leads junior sailors.	Address as: Petty Officer
E-5		Petty Officer Second Class PO2	Experienced petty officer who supervises and trains sailors in a rating.	Address as: Petty Officer
E-6		Petty Officer First Class PO1	Senior petty officer who leads a work center or team.	Address as: Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officers (E-7 to E-9)
E-7		Chief Petty Officer CPO	Senior enlisted leader and technical expert who leads sailors in a division.	Address as: Chief
E-8		Senior Chief Petty Officer SCPO	Senior enlisted leader who manages larger groups of sailors and programs.	Address as: Senior Chief
E-9		Master Chief Petty Officer MCPO	Highest enlisted grade; senior enlisted leader at department or command level.	Address as: Master Chief
E-9		Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer	Senior enlisted advisor to the commander of a ship, command, fleet, or force.	Address as: Master Chief
E-9		Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON	The Navy's most senior enlisted sailor and advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations.	Address as: Master Chief

Navy chief warrant officers are technical specialists selected from the senior enlisted ranks. In recent years, the Navy used the W-1 grade only for its cyber warrant officer program, and it ended new W-1 selections beginning with its fiscal year 2027 boards, so new cyber warrant officers enter at Chief Warrant Officer 2.

Navy Warrant Officer Ranks in Order

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
W-1		Warrant Officer 1 WO1	Former entry grade for cyber warrant officers, closed to new selections from fiscal year 2027.
W-2		Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2	Technical specialist commissioned from the senior enlisted ranks.
W-3		Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3	Experienced technical specialist and leader in a specialty field.
W-4		Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4	Senior technical specialist who advises commanders in a specialty field.
W-5		Chief Warrant Officer 5 CWO5	Master-level technical specialist and senior advisor to commanders.

Navy officer ranks run from Ensign at O-1 to Admiral at O-10, and most of their titles differ from the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. A Navy Captain is an O-6, while a Captain in those services is an O-3. Officers at O-7 and above are flag officers.

Navy Officer Ranks in Order (O-1 to O-10)

Grade	Insignia	Rank	What This Rank Does	How to Address
Junior Officers (O-1 to O-3)
O-1		Ensign ENS	Entry-level officer who typically serves as a division officer.	Address as: Ensign
O-2		Lieutenant Junior Grade LTJG	Junior officer leading a division with growing responsibility.	Address as: Lieutenant
O-3		Lieutenant LT	Experienced junior officer who leads a division or serves as an aviator.	Address as: Lieutenant
Mid-Grade Officers (O-4 to O-6)
O-4		Lieutenant Commander LCDR	Department head or executive officer of a smaller command.	Address as: Commander
O-5		Commander CDR	Typically commands a ship, submarine, or aviation squadron.	Address as: Commander
O-6		Captain CAPT	Commands a large ship, base, or major staff organization.	Address as: Captain
Flag Officers (O-7 to O-10)
O-7		Rear Admiral Lower Half RDML	One-star flag officer leading a group, region, or major staff directorate.	Address as: Admiral
O-8		Rear Admiral Upper Half RADM	Two-star flag officer commanding a strike group or major organization.	Address as: Admiral
O-9		Vice Admiral VADM	Commands a numbered fleet or a major Navy organization.	Address as: Admiral
O-10		Admiral ADM	Leads the largest commands, including the Chief of Naval Operations.	Address as: Admiral

Fleet Admiral is a five-star grade reserved for wartime. Congress created it in December 1944, and four Navy officers held it.

Use the full rank and last name in writing and formal settings. In conversation, Navy ranks are often shortened as shown below, and officers can also be addressed as sir or ma'am.

See military ranks in order for every branch side by side, or open the full rank chart for another branch below. Coast Guard ranks use the same titles as the Navy.