The rank of Admiral, in the Colonial forces, is senior to a Commander and the highest Fleet rank, normally achieved by those who command multiple ships. The term "admiral" can refer to (in order of increasing seniority) a Rear Admiral, a Vice-Admiral or a full Admiral.
Characters to hold the rank of Rear Admiral:
- William Adama, commander of the battlestar Galactica, after his promotion by Laura Roslin.
- Helena Cain, commander of the battlestar Pegasus, until her death.
Characters to hold the rank of full Admiral:
- Admiral Nagala, commander of the battlestar Atlantia and briefly the leader of the Colonial Fleet until his death in the Atlantia's destruction.
- Admiral Corman, a member of the Fleet command, who ordered Adama and the battlestar Valkyrie on a Black Ops mission to the Cylon Armistice Line.
No characters in the series have been established to have achieved the rank of Vice-Admiral.