Vice Admiral

"I didn't just make it to vice admiral on looks alone."

―Edmon Rampart, on his career^[5]

Vice Admiral was a rank in the hierarchy of various navies. A vice admiral was senior to a Rear Admiral and junior to an admiral.^[2]

Description

Vice Admiral was a military rank used by officers in the naval forces of various factions throughout history.^[1] The rank was higher than a rear admiral^[4] yet lower than a full admiral.^[6] In the Imperial Military, a vice admiral served as the commanding officer of a fleet^[7] and could also direct military projects^[6] as well as civilian^[8] and biological warfare programs.^[4]

History

Republic and Early Imperial Era

"Captain Sloane?!"
"That's Vice Admiral Sloane, now."

―Kanan Jarrus and Rae Sloane^[9]

RampartTarkin-Replacements — Vice Admiral Edmon Rampart (left) and Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin (right).

The rank of vice admiral existed within the Galactic Republic, with Edmon Rampart of the Republic Navy's Open Circle Fleet holding the rank during the Outer Rim Sieges^[1] in 19 BBY.^[10] Vice Admiral Rampart continued to hold the rank when the Republic was transformed into the Galactic Empire, and within days was responsible for implementing the Imperial chain code program.^[8] Later, Rampart was placed in command of Project War-Mantle by Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin and oversaw the deployment of the Empire's first Elite Squad Troopers.^[6] Rampart, as a naval officer, also had command of his own Imperial fleet, and was responsible for the attack on Kamino that wiped out Kaminoan civilization.^[7]

In 14 BBY,^[11] naval chief Tallatz served as a vice admiral and was summoned by Galactic Emperor Palpatine alongside three other naval chiefs to the Denon system aboard the Defiance, which hosted a flight academy overseen by Commandant Pell Baylo.^[11] In the same year,^[12] Deputy Director Dodd Rancit and Terrinald Screed served as vice admirals within the Naval Intelligence Agency, leading the agency. Vice Admiral Rancit also served as the commanding officer of the Secutor-class Star Destroyer Conquest and led a task force of warships during a campaign against a rebel cell led by Berch Teller. Rancit was executed when it was discovered he was complicit in assisting the rebel cell.^[2] Vice Admiral Screed was eventually killed by pirates in the Iktari Circle.^[4] In 4 BBY,^[10] Rae Sloane served as a vice admiral after being promoted from captain in the years following the Gorse Conflict but was demoted to commodore after engaging a rebel cell and failing to stop them.^[9]

Galactic Civil War

Admiral Sloane SWArmada Tiziano Baracchi — Vice Admiral Rae Sloane

Following the Liberation of Lothal^[13] in 1 BBY,^[10] Captain Corf Ferno of the ISD Dark Omen was promoted to vice admiral and placed in command of the remnants of Grand Admiral Thrawn's Seventh Fleet by Supreme Commander Grand General Cassio Tagge. Vice Admiral Ferno continued in this rank and role throughout the Galactic Civil War.^[13] Following the Battle of Hoth^[14] in 3 ABY,^[10] Commodore Sloane was promoted back to vice admiral and returned to command the ISD Vigilance.^[14] In 4 ABY, Vice Admiral Sloane participated in the Battle of Endor, which saw the death of Emperor Palpatine, Supreme Commander Lord Vader, and the destruction of the second Death Star. As a vice admiral, she ordered surviving Imperial forces to retreat.^[15]

In 5 ABY,^[16] Perwin Gedde served as a vice admiral and spearheaded one of the Empire's most brutal biological weapons programs before being tracked down by New Republic Imperial hunters, but was poisoned and died. At this time, Gaelan also served as a vice admiral under Grand Admiral Rae Sloane's Imperial loyalist forces.^[4] At that time, Vice Admiral Domm Korgale served as the commanding officer of the ISD Dominion, reporting to Grand Moff Lozen Tolruck as the leader of the Imperial remnant on Kashyyyk. Korgale participated in the New Republic liberation of Kashyyyk, attempting to repel the Republic assault. Ultimately, Korgale and his forces were defeated, and Kashyyyk was freed.^[4] Vice Admiral Ferno participated in the Defense of Kuat against the New Republic under orders by Grand Admiral Sloane. There, Ferno commanded at least seventeen Star Destroyers under Moff Pollus Maksim until they eventually surrendered.^[13]

Later in the same year,^[17] Vice Admiral Pierson served aboard the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Ravager as part of Sloane's and Counselor to the Empire Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax's Imperial loyalists, and participated in the Battle of Jakku, the final battle of the Galactic Civil War. During the battle, the Ravager was critically damaged and crashed on the surface of the desert on Jakku.^[18]

New Republic Era

ViceAdmiralHoldoChromeBlack2022 — Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo temporarily led the Resistance.

The Resistance, a private paramilitary force with roots to the old Rebel Alliance and the New Republic,^[19] used the rank within its naval hierarchy. During the war between the Resistance and the First Order, Resdox held the rank^[3] and was assigned to the Nebulon-C escort frigate Anodyne during the Battle of D'Qar^[20] in 34 ABY.^[10] At the same time, Jotis served as a vice admiral aboard the Vakbeor-class cargo frigate Vigil. Both the Anodyne and the Vigil were destroyed shortly after during the Battle of Oetchi. Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo of the Free Virgillia-class Bunkerbuster Ninka served as the leader of the entire Resistance after Resistance High Command was decimated during the Battle of Oetchi and General Leia Organa was hospitalized.^[20]