Commander

Multiple realities

(covers information from several alternate timelines)

Commander insignia
Type:

For the position of Commanding Officer of Starfleet, please see Commander, Starfleet.

For the term describing a post's commander, please see commanding officer.

"A Starfleet commander is a valuable hostage."

– Galen, 2370 ("Gambit, Part I")

Commander was a commissioned officer rank used by the service organizations of many civilizations.

As a traditional naval grade in Human usage, commander was the second most senior line officer rank, falling between a lieutenant commander and a captain. In Romulan usage, it falls between sub-commander and admiral.

During the 20th century on Earth, the United States Navy used this rank. The United States Navy used the insignia of three solid sleeve stripes to denote the rank of commander. The watch station of command duty officer was a position that could be held by a commander. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Responsibilities

Starfleet

The rank of commander was a senior rank, common among executive officers and senior department heads, or even commanders of space stations and other such installations. (TOS: "Balance of Terror"; TNG: "11001001"; DS9 Season 1-DS9 Season 3)

While the rank was not required to be Chief Medical Officer, the Bridge Officer's Test was required to hold the rank. (TNG: "Thine Own Self")

Other organizations

In the Xindi-Reptilian military of the 22nd century, some commanders controlled a squadron and a regiment. (ENT: "Azati Prime")

The rank of commander in the Romulan Star Empire was considered the equivalent of a Starfleet captain. (TNG: "Future Imperfect") Also, a sub-commander grade existed in the Romulan military, with this rank also used in the 22nd century by the Vulcan High Command. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident"; ENT: "Broken Bow")

According to The Making of Star Trek (p. 256), the Romulan rank of commander was the rank of someone who commands a fleet of ships. This would imply it to be equal to the Federation Starfleet rank of fleet captain, commodore or rear admiral.

In Star Trek, Ayel refers to Nero as "Prod Nero." In a deleted scene in which the Narada is surround by Klingon warbirds, the subtitles created by the filmmakers for the Romulan dialogue translate Prod as "commander." However, according to a DVD audio commentary for the film, "Prod" was intended to mean "Praetor."

The 23rd century Imperial Klingon Fleet used the rank of commander to denote the commanders of smaller space vessels, such as a Bird-of-Prey. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock) A Klingon rank of captain was used for larger vessels with this title carrying over to the 24th century Klingon Defense Force. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles"; TNG: "Redemption")

Noted commanders

Andorian Imperial Guard

• Thy'lek Shran

Benthan Guard

• Avik

Dramian

• Demos

Federation Starfleet

• See: Starfleet commanders

First Federation

• Balok

Kelvan Empire

• Rojan

Klingon Defense Force

• Kang
• Kaybok
• Kiff
• K'Nera
• Kolana
• Kor
• Kruge
• Kuri
• Kurn
• Morag
• Sorval

Nakan military

• Saavdra

Romulan Star Empire

• Donatra
• Konsab
• Rekar
• Sela
• Sirol
• Suran
• Tebok
• Tomalak
• Toreth

Suliban Cabal

• Raan

Talaxian

• Paxim

Tholian Assembly

• Loskene

Xindi

• Dolim
• Kolo

Zalkonian

• Sunad

This chart shows only general equivalencies based on the ranks used by many governments on Earth, as well as the rest of the galaxy.

Appendices

See also

• Field commander
• Honorary commander
• Space Commander

External link

• Commander at Wikipedia