Which rank sits directly above Captain in the Navy pay grade sequence?

• A. Rear Admiral Lower Half
• B. Commander
• C. Lieutenant Commander
• D. Rear Admiral Upper Half

Answer: (A)

In the Navy, ranks advance by pay grades. Captain is an O-6, and the next higher pay grade is O-7, held by Rear Admiral Lower Half. This is the one-star admiral, sitting directly above Captain in the sequence. The other options aren’t directly above: Commander and Lieutenant Commander are below Captain (O-5 and O-4), while Rear Admiral Upper Half is above Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-8), not directly above Captain.