The rank of lieutenant general (or three-star general) is the second-highest rank normally achievable in the United States Army, and the first to have a specific number of authorized positions for it set by statute. It ranks above major general (two-star general) and below general (four-star general).
There have been 88 lieutenant generals in the U.S. Army since 1 January 2020, seven of whom were promoted to four-star general. All 88 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Army. Lieutenant generals entered the Army via several paths: 49 were commissioned via Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university, 26 via the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), eight via ROTC at a senior military college, four via Officer Candidate School (OCS), and one via direct commission (direct).
Entries in the following list of lieutenant generals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Army or was promoted to four-star rank while on active duty in the U.S. Army. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank, active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes.
| Name | Photo | Position | Yrs | Commission | YC | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | data-sort-value="gabram" | Douglas M. Gabram |
| 2 | 1984 (ROTC) | 36 | ||||
| data-sort-value="george" | Randy A. George |
| 2 | 1988 (USMA) | 32 | Promoted to general, 5 Aug 2022. | ||||
| 2 | data-sort-value="marion" | Robert L. Marion | 2 May 2020 |
| 4 | 1988 (ROTC) | 32 | |||
| 3 | data-sort-value="bassett" | David G. Bassett | 4 Jun 2020 |
| 3 | 1988 (ROTC) | 32 | |||
| 4 | data-sort-value="walker" | Flem B. Walker Jr. |
| 2 | 1987 (ROTC) | 33 | ||||
| 5 | data-sort-value="todd" | Thomas H. Todd III | 13 Jul 2020 |
| 3 | 1989 (Citadel) | 31 | |||
| 6 | data-sort-value="howard" | Michael L. Howard |
| 2 | 1986 (ROTC) | 34 | ||||
| 7 | data-sort-value="daniels" | Jody J. Daniels | 28 Jul 2020 |
| 4 | 1983 (ROTC) | 37 | First woman to lead the U.S. Army Reserve.[1] | ||
| data-sort-value="brito" | Gary M. Brito |
| 2 | 1987 (ROTC) | 33 | (1964–) Promoted to general, 8 Sep 2022. | ||||
| 8 | data-sort-value="jensen" | Jon A. Jensen |
| 4 | 1989 (OCS) | 31 | (1963–) | |||
| 9 | data-sort-value="cloutier" | Roger L. Cloutier Jr. |
| 2 | 1988 (ROTC) | 32 | (1965–) | |||
| 10 | data-sort-value="morrison" | John B. Morrison Jr. | 4 Aug 2020 |
| 4 | 1986 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 11 | data-sort-value="kolasheski" | John S. Kolasheski | 4 Aug 2020 |
| 4 | 1989 (ROTC) | 31 | |||
| 12 | data-sort-value="calvert" | Paul T. Calvert | 9 Sep 2020 |
| 4 | 1987 (NGC) | 33 | |||
| 13 | data-sort-value="spellmon" | Scott A. Spellmon | 10 Sep 2020 |
| 4 | 1986 (USMA) | 34 | (1963–) | ||
| 14 | data-sort-value="potter" | Laura A. Potter | 14 Sep 2020 |
| 4 | 1989 (ROTC) | 31 | (–) | ||
| data-sort-value="mingus" | James J. Mingus | 1 Oct 2020 |
| 4 | 1985 (ROTC) | 35 | (1964–) Promoted to general, 3 Jan 2024. | |||
| 15 | data-sort-value="burleson" | Willard M. Burleson III | 2 Oct 2020 |
| 4 | 1988 (USMA) | 32 | (1965–) | ||
| 16 | data-sort-value="mckean" | D. Scott McKean | 2 Nov 2020 |
| 4 | 1990 (USMA) | 30 | (1968–) | ||
| 17 | data-sort-value="roper" | A. C. Roper Jr. | 4 May 2021 |
| 3 | 1983 (ROTC) | 38 | (1963–) First African-American in the U.S. Army Reserve to achieve the rank of lieutenant general.[3] | ||
| 18 | data-sort-value="gervais" | Maria R. Gervais |
| 3 | 1987 (ROTC) | 34 | ||||
| 19 | data-sort-value="peterson" | Erik C. Peterson | 2 Jun 2021 |
| 3 | 1986 (ROTC) | 35 | |||
| 20 | data-sort-value="aguto" | Antonio A. Aguto Jr. | 8 Jul 2021 |
| 3 | 1988 (USMA) | 33 | (1966–) | ||
| 21 | data-sort-value="risch" | Stuart W. Risch | 12 Jul 2021 |
| 3 | 1984 (ROTC) | 37 | |||
| 22 | data-sort-value="chamberlain" | Paul A. Chamberlain | 2 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1988 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| data-sort-value="clark" | Ronald P. Clark | 4 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1988 (USMA) | 33 | (1966–) Promoted to general, 8 Nov 2024. | |||
| 23 | data-sort-value="braga" | Jonathan P. Braga | 13 Aug 2021 |
| 3 | 1991 (USMA) | 30 | (1969–) | ||
| 24 | data-sort-value="martin" | Donna W. Martin | 2 Sep 2021 |
| 3 | 1988 (ROTC) | 33 | (–) Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army, 2020–2021. First woman to be Inspector General of the United States Army.[4] | ||
| 25 | data-sort-value="evans" | John R. Evans Jr. | 9 Sep 2021 |
| 3 | 1988 (ROTC) | 33 | (1966–) | ||
| data-sort-value="brunson" | Xavier T. Brunson | 1 Oct 2021 |
| 3 | 1990 (ROTC) | 31 | (–) Promoted to general, 20 Dec 2024. | |||
| 26 | data-sort-value="fletcher" | Antonio M. Fletcher | 15 Oct 2021 |
| 3 | 1989 (USMA) | 32 | |||
| 27 | data-sort-value="fenzel" | Michael R. Fenzel | 2 Nov 2021 |
| 3 | 1989 (ROTC) | 32 | (1967–) | ||
| data-sort-value="donahue" | Christopher T. Donahue | 11 Mar 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (USMA) | 30 | (1969–) Promoted to general, 10 Dec 2024. | |||
| data-sort-value="hamilton" | Charles R. Hamilton | 6 Apr 2022 |
| 1 | 1988 (OCS) | 34 | (1967–) Promoted to general, 16 Mar 2023. | |||
| 28 | data-sort-value="barrett" | Maria B. Barrett | 3 May 2022 |
| 2 | 1988 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 29 | data-sort-value="sims" | Douglas A. Sims II | 10 Jun 2022 |
| 2 | 1991 (USMA) | 31 | (1968–) | ||
| 30 | data-sort-value="gilland" | Steven W. Gilland | 27 Jun 2022 |
| 2 | 1990 (USMA) | 32 | (1968–) | ||
| 31 | data-sort-value="sullivan" | John P. Sullivan | 30 Jun 2022 |
| 2 | 1987 (ROTC) | 35 | |||
| 32 | data-sort-value="jones" | Omar J. Jones IV | 5 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (USMA) | 30 | |||
| 33 | data-sort-value="frank" | Patrick D. Frank | 7 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (ROTC) | 33 | (1967–) | ||
| 34 | data-sort-value="jarrard" | James B. Jarrard | 28 Jul 2022 |
| 2 | 1988 (NGC) | 34 | (1966–) | ||
| 35 | data-sort-value="rohling" | Andrew M. Rohling | 2 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 36 | data-sort-value="stitt" | Douglas F. Stitt | 5 Aug 2022 |
| 2 | 1990 (Norwich) | 32 | |||
| 37 | data-sort-value="rasch" | Robert A. Rasch Jr. | 2 Sep 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 38 | data-sort-value="vereen" | Kevin Vereen | 21 Sep 2022 |
| 2 | 1988 (ROTC) | 34 | (–) Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army, 2019–2020. | ||
| 39 | data-sort-value="matlock" | Patrick E. Matlock | 3 Oct 2022 |
| 2 | 1988 (USMA) | 34 | (1965–) Son-in-law of Army four-star general Tommy Franks. | ||
| 40 | data-sort-value="beagle" | Milford H. Beagle Jr. | 4 Oct 2022 |
| 2 | 1990 (ROTC) | 32 | |||
| 41 | data-sort-value="coffman" | Richard R. Coffman | 4 Oct 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 42 | data-sort-value="bernabe" | Sean C. Bernabe | 4 Oct 2022 |
| 2 | 1992 (USMA) | 30 | (1970–) | ||
| 43 | data-sort-value="mohan" | Christopher O. Mohan | 30 Nov 2022 |
| 2 | 1989 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 44 | data-sort-value="crosland" | Telita Crosland | 3 Jan 2023 |
| 1 | 1993 (USMA) | 30 | |||
| 45 | data-sort-value="james" | Thomas L. James | 5 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1990 (ROTC) | 33 | (–) Served seven years in the enlisted ranks before receiving his commission in 1990. | ||
| 46 | data-sort-value="hoyle" | Heidi J. Hoyle | 5 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1994 (USMA) | 29 | |||
| 47 | data-sort-value="isaacson" | David T. Isaacson | 15 Dec 2023 |
| 1 | 1988 (ROTC) | 35 | |||
| 48 | data-sort-value="hale" | Anthony R. Hale | 3 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 49 | data-sort-value="collins" | Robert M. Collins | 3 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (ROTC) | 32 | |||
| 50 | data-sort-value="bredenkamp" | Michele H. Bredenkamp | 4 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 51 | data-sort-value="hodne" | David M. Hodne | 9 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USMA) | 33 | (1969–) | ||
| 52 | data-sort-value="gainey" | Sean A. Gainey | 9 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 53 | data-sort-value="hartman" | William J. Hartman | 16 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1989 (ROTC) | 35 | |||
| 54 | data-sort-value="izaguirre" | Mary K. Izaguirre | 25 Jan 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (direct) | 33 | |||
| 55 | data-sort-value="simerly" | Mark T. Simerly | 2 Feb 2024 |
| 0 | 1984 (ROTC) | 30 | |||
| 56 | data-sort-value="gingrich" | Karl H. Gingrich | 2 Feb 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC)[6] | 34 | |||
| 57 | data-sort-value="smith" | Stephen G. Smith | 2 Apr 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (Citadel) | 33 | |||
| 58 | data-sort-value="brennan" | John W. Brennan Jr. | 3 Apr 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 59 | data-sort-value="laneve" | Christopher C. LaNeve | 5 Apr 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 34 | |||
| 60 | data-sort-value="costanza" | Charles D. Costanza | 8 Apr 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USMA)[7] | 33 | (1969–) | ||
| 61 | data-sort-value="mcgee" | Joseph P. McGee | 2 May 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (USMA) | 34 | (–) | ||
| 62 | data-sort-value="carden" | Thomas M. Carden Jr. |
| 0 | 1989 (OCS) | 35 | ||||
| 63 | data-sort-value="helwig" | Jered P. Helwig | 10 Jul 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (ROTC) | 30 | |||
| 64 | data-sort-value="berger" | Joseph B. Berger III | 10 Jul 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (USMA) | 32 | (–) | ||
| 65 | data-sort-value="harter" | Robert D. Harter | 1 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1988 (Virginia Tech) | 36 | (–) | ||
| 66 | data-sort-value="francis" | David J. Francis | 1 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1989 (ROTC) | 35 | (–) | ||
| 67 | data-sort-value="eifler" | Brian S. Eifler | 2 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1990 (ROTC) | 34 | (1968–) | ||
| 68 | data-sort-value="stubbs" | Jonathan M. Stubbs | 3 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1995 (OCS) | 29 | (1972–) | ||
| 69 | data-sort-value="buzzard" | Curtis A. Buzzard | 5 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (USMA) | 32 | |||
| 70 | data-sort-value="landes" | Mark H. Landes |
| 0 | 1990 (USMA) | 34 | (1968–) | |||
| 71 | data-sort-value="admiral" | Kevin D. Admiral | 7 Aug 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (ROTC) | 30 | |||
| 72 | data-sort-value="wilson" | David Wilson | 3 Sep 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (Citadel) | 33 | |||
| 73 | data-sort-value="graham" | William H. Graham Jr. | 13 Sep 2024 |
| 0 | 1989 (ROTC) | 35 | (–) | ||
| 74 | data-sort-value="rudd" | Joshua M. Rudd | 25 Sep 2024 |
| 0 | 1993 (ROTC) | 31 | (–) | ||
| 75 | data-sort-value="vowell" | Joel B. Vowell | 2 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (ROTC) | 33 | |||
| 76 | data-sort-value="stanton" | Paul T. Stanton | 4 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1995 (USMA) | 29 | (–) | ||
| 77 | data-sort-value="angle" | Richard E. Angle | 4 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USMA) | 33 | |||
| 78 | data-sort-value="mcfarlane" | Matthew W. McFarlane | 25 Oct 2024 |
| 0 | 1992 (ROTC) | 32 | |||
| 79 | data-sort-value="brown" | Edmond M. Brown | 2 Nov 2024 |
| 0 | 1994 (Citadel)[10] | 30 | |||
| 80 | data-sort-value="ryan" | Joseph A. Ryan | 4 Nov 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USMA)[11] | 33 | (–) | ||
| 81 | data-sort-value="anderson" | Gregory K. Anderson | 6 Dec 2024 |
| 0 | 1991 (USMA) | 33 |
Aside from the conventional role of lieutenant generals as corps or field army commanders, said billets also include senior staff positions under the authority of the four-star chief and vice chief of staff (such as the director of the Army staff), high-level specialty positions like the judge advocate general,[12] chief of engineers,[13] surgeon general[13] and chief of Army Reserve,[14] deputy commanders of four-star Army commands and the commanders of the Army service component commands. The superintendent of the United States Military Academy has also been a lieutenant general without interruption since 1981, as has been the director of the Army National Guard[15] since 2001.[16]
About 30 to 50 joint service three-star billets exist at any given time that can be occupied by an Army lieutenant general, among the most prestigious being the director of the Joint Staff (DJS), principal staff advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and historically considered a stepping stone to four-star rank.[17] All deputy commanders of the unified combatant commands are of three-star rank, as are directors of Defense Agencies not headed by a civilian such as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIRDIA).[18] Internationally-based three-star positions include the United States military representative to the NATO Military Committee (USMILREP) and the security coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. All nominees for three-star rank must be confirmed via majority by the Senate before the appointee can take office and thus assume the rank.[19]
The U.S. Code states that no more than 46 officers in the U.S. Army may hold the rank of lieutenant general on the active duty list, aside from those on joint duty assignments.[20] Three-star positions can be elevated to four-star grade or reduced to two-star grade when necessary, either to highlight their increasing importance to the defense apparatus (or lack thereof) or to achieve parity with equivalent commands in other services or regions. Few three-star positions are set by statute, leading to their increased volatility as they do not require congressional approval to be downgraded.
Military nominations are considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee. While it is rare for three-star or four-star nominations to face even token opposition in the Senate, nominations that do face opposition due to controversy surrounding the nominee in question are typically withdrawn. Nominations that are not withdrawn are allowed to expire without action at the end of the legislative session.
Additionally, events that take place after Senate confirmation may still delay or even prevent the nominee from assuming office.