From cruiser command to temporary admiral

After USS New York, Kimmel became a rear admiral and commanded Cruiser Division Seven on a South American diplomatic cruise. He later led the battle-force cruisers before being selected for the Pacific Fleet. Statutory limits left the Navy with too few substantive vice admirals and admirals for all senior commands, so officers received temporary higher rank while holding particular posts. Kimmel's appointment was a major jump in authority, but it followed important sea-going flag commands rather than an unexplained political promotion.