Currently the highest rank is General/Admiral. Often referred to as a FOUR STAR. The person with FOUR STARS holding the highest position in the chain of command is the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Right now that is General Joseph Dunford Jr. In times of war (declared) we can have FIVE STARS. Those would be General of the Army (ARMY and MARINES), General of the Air Force and Fleet Admiral (NAVY and COAST GUARD) There are no living five stars. Just as a historical note, the General who EARNED the most stars was Douglas MacArthur. He went up to two stars then became Chief of Staff. That made him a four star. He retired and his retirement rank was two stars. He got called back as a two star and then earned three more stars and ended up a five star. So he earned seven stars total. Plus he was the ONLY US general to also hold the rank of Field Marshall. However he was also the highest ranking officer to get fired by the president for insubordination. Also note, POSITION is not the same as rank, rank is what you wear on your uniform. ((For those who say SIX STARS, there was never a rank insignia for that. The ONLY person they ever considered making up a rank of SIX STARS for was Douglas MacArthur in 1955. It would have been the five star ring with a sixth star in the middle. It was not acted on. So please people, stop talking about six stars.)