FYI, here is what's come in to the Blog that relates to this office/rank.
   For recent questions sent in, check out Robert Hickey's Blog.
   For specific offices/ranks, check out Robert Hickey's On-Line Guide.

How to Address a Retired Rear Admiral?
Dear Robert Hickey:
     How would I address a retired admiral who now holds another position. Here's what I have in mind for the envelope and for the salutation. What do you think?
    ENVELOPE:
        Rear Admiral William Smith
            Director of the Executive Residence and Chief Usher
                The White House
                    1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                           Washington, DC 20500
                                United States of America
    SALUTATION:
        Dear Rear Admiral Smith:
                    -- C. MacP., Toronto, Canada


Dear C. MacP:
    Use the form I show on page 216.
    Write "Rear Admiral (full name)" ... which is the full rank on the envelope .... but use "Admiral (surname)" as the salutation.
    All admirals are orally addressed as "Admiral"  which is the "basic rank" ... the "full rank" -- Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral -- is used in writing. 
    On page 94 I include everything about how to write the branch of service and note his retired status.  Here you include the branch of service USN and Retired after his name. At the White House, there are probably active-duty "admirals" ... so do include Retired for clarity and completeness.
    So here's how I would do it:
        ENVELOPE:
            Rear Admiral William Smith, USN, Retired
                Director of the Executive Residence and Chief Usher
                    The White House
                        1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                              Washington, DC 20500
                                    United States of America
        SALUTATION:
            Dear Admiral Smith:
    He will be pleased when he sees that you used his Naval rank as a courtesy.
           -- Robert Hickey

How to Identify a Retired Officer on a Document?
    I am writing a joint thank-you letter on behalf of two non-profit organizations in our community - the Women's Business Organization (WBO) - and the Historical Museum.  We recently partnered to do a fundraiser called "Dine Out Springfield", which raised money that allowed WBO to offer three additional scholarships this year and allowed the Museum to enhance their artifacts and community outreach.
      The WBO signatory is our current president.  The museum's signatory is a US Navy Rear Admiral who is retired.  What is the correct way for me to note his name and rank below his signature line?  Is it Rear Admiral Warren Thompson, USN, Retired or Warren Thompson, R. Adm. (retired) or something else??
          -- The President-Elect of  WBO

Dear T P-E of WBO:
    Note his name below his signature line in the same way one would address him most formally:
        Rear Admiral Warren Thompson, USN, Retired
    It might be a good idea to include his role under his name since he is not signing the document in any capacity related to his service as a rear admiral:
        Rear Admiral Warren Thompson, USN, Retired
        Representative for the Historical Museum
    I include all the forms of address for rear admirals on page 216 of my book.
    Some retired admirals might not use their rank in a post-retirement non-military position, but if you know that he's a retired admiral, his preference must be to be addressed by his rank.
          -- Robert Hickey

In What Order Do I Address More Than One Military Officer in a Salutation?
    How should I address more than one Admiral in correspondence?  For example, I was going to write:
          Dear Admirals Blue, Green, and Red (alphabetically)
    I see on your website I should do it by seniority rather than alphabetically; Is that correct? Thank you.
         -- KW, PharmD, Drug Risk Management Analyst

Dear KW:
     Yes, list their names in order by seniority.
     Every officer knows his or her date of rank, as will their staff, so the information should not be hard to get.
                   -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Retired Officer in Conversation?
       My neighbor is a retired Navy Admiral.  I am an active duty Navy Captain. Am I required to address him as Admiral?  Can I call him by his first name?
       -- LR

Dear LR:
       When I was a kid we lived in Arlington, VA, across the street from Admiral Towner. Neither he nor Mrs. Towner ever invited any of the neighbors to call them by their first names. Both were very friendly -- the Towners had great neighborhood parties -- but just were formal.  To our right lived General McCaw.  He and his wife (Bob and Sally) were on a first name basis with everyone.
       Since your neighbor has higher rank ... and you are a member of the same hierarchy .... start with:
              Admiral (Surname)
       And call his wife, if he has one:
              Mrs. (Surname)
       Then follow their lead on subsequent use of names. He might say 'call me (given name)', or if he calls you by your (given name) ... that would be his signal to call him by his (given name) in reply.
       Even if he invites you to be on a first-name basis, switch over to (Rank) (Name) when in uniform ... or anytime in the presence of other armed services personnel / those who would not be on a first name basis with him.
              -- Robert Hickey

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For forms of address for invitations, place cards, name badges, introductions, conversation, and all other formal uses, see Honor & Respect: the Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address.

Copyright © 2013 Robert Hickey.     All Rights Reserved.
Photo: Marc Goodman.