Commander#Australian police rank
{{Distinguish|Commando}}
{{About|the military rank|the honorific title of chivalric orders|Commander (order)|other uses|Commander (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Naval and air force officer rank}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
{{Military ranks|state=expanded}}
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries, this naval rank is termed as a frigate captain.
Commander is also a generic term for an officer commanding any armed forces unit, such as "platoon commander", "brigade commander" and "squadron commander". In the police, terms such as "borough commander" and "incident commander" are used.
= Australia =
The rank of commander in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is identical in description to that of a commander in the British Royal Navy. RAN chaplains who are in divisions 1, 2 or 3 (of five divisions) have the equivalent rank standing of commanders. This means that to officers and NCOs below the rank of commander, lieutenant colonel, or wing commander, the chaplain is a superior.
To those officers ranked higher than commander, the chaplain is subordinate. Although this equivalency exists, RAN chaplains who are in divisions 1, 2 or 3 do not actually wear the rank of commander, and they hold no command privilege.
= Canada =
{{main|Commander (Canada)}}
= Romania =
The rank of commander ({{lang|ro|Comandor}} in Romanian) is used by both the Romanian Air Force and Romanian Naval Forces. It is equivalent to the army rank of Colonel (OF-5). In both cases, the rank is above {{lang|ro|Căpitan-comandor}} ({{Literal translation|Captain-commander}}, OF-4). In the air force, {{lang|ro|Comandor}} is below the rank of {{lang|ro|General de flotilă aeriană}} ({{Literal translation|Air flotilla general}}), while in the navy it is below {{lang|ro|Contraamiral de flotilă}} ({{Literal translation|Flotilla counter admiral}}).{{cite web|url=https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/6151|title=LEGE nr. 80 din 11 iulie 1995|language=ro|publisher=MONITORUL OFICIAL nr. 155 din 20 iulie 1995|date=11 July 1995}}{{cite web |title=Grade militare |url=https://www.roaf.ro/?page_id=5114 |website=roaf.ro |publisher=Romanian Air Force |access-date=2 December 2024 |language=ro}} The rank was also used in the Royal Romanian Air Force and Navy until the proclamation of the Republic.{{cite book |last1=Mollo |first1=Andrew |author-link1=Andrew Mollo |title=The Armed Forces of World War II: Uniforms, insignia, and organization |date=1981 |publisher=Crown Publishers |location=New York, N.Y. |isbn=0-517-54478-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/armedforcesofwor0000moll/mode/2up |url-access=limited |access-date=31 March 2022 |page=306}}
== Denmark ==
{{main|Ranks and insignia of Royal Danish Navy}}
In Denmark, the rank of commander exists as {{lang|da|kommandørkaptajn}} (commander captain or commanding captain), which is senior to {{lang|da|orlogskaptajn}} (captain) and {{lang|da|kommandør}} (commander), which is senior to {{lang|da|kommandørkaptajn}}. Kommandørkaptajn is officially translated into English as "Commander, Senior Grade", while orlogskaptajn is officially translated as '"Commander."[https://militaria.lv/stanag.htm STANAG 2116.] 2022-04-16.
= United Kingdom =
==Royal Navy==
{{main|Commander (Royal Navy)}}
A commander in the Royal Navy is above the rank of lieutenant commander, below the rank of captain, and is equivalent in rank to a lieutenant colonel in the army. A commander may command a frigate, destroyer, submarine, aviation squadron or shore installation, or may serve on a staff.
==Royal Air Force==
Since the British Royal Air Force's mid-rank officers' ranks are modeled on those of the Royal Navy, the term wing commander is used as a rank, and this is the equivalent of a lieutenant colonel in the army or a commander in the navy. The rank of wing commander is above that of squadron leader and below that of group captain.
In the former Royal Naval Air Service, which was merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force in 1918, the pilots held appointments as well as their normal ranks in the Royal Navy, and they wore insignia appropriate to the appointment instead of the rank. A flight commander wore a star above a lieutenant's two rank stripes, squadron commander wore two stars above two rank stripes (less than eight years' seniority) or two-and-a-half rank stripes (over eight years seniority), and wing commander wore three rank stripes. The rank stripes had the usual Royal Navy curl, and they were surmounted by an eagle.
=United States=
{{main|Commander (United States)}}
In the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, commander (abbreviated "CDR") is a senior-grade officer rank, with the pay grade of O-5. Commander ranks above lieutenant commander (O-4) and below captain. (O-6). Commander is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States Space Force. Notably, commander is the first rank at which the holder wears an embellished cap, whereas officers of the other military services are entitled to embellishment of similar headgear at O-4 rank.
Promotion to commander in the U.S. Navy is governed by United States Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) of 1980 or its companion Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act (ROPMA). DOPMA/ROPMA guidelines suggest that 70% of lieutenant commanders should be promoted to commander after serving a minimum of three years at their present rank and after attaining 15 to 17 years of cumulative commissioned service, although this percentage may vary and be appreciably less for certain officer designators (i.e., primary "specialties") depending on defense budgets, force structure, and the needs of the service.
=Gallery=
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard){{cite web |title=Paratus |author1=Antigua & Barbuda Defence Force |url=http://abdf.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ABDF_mag_2011.pdf |publisher=Regional Publications Ltd. |access-date=2 March 2020 |pages=12–13 |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607174320/http://abdf.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ABDF_mag_2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Royal Australian Navy){{cite web |title=Badges of rank |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |website=defence.gov.au |publisher=Department of Defence (Australia) |access-date=31 May 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Royal Bahamas Defence Force){{cite web |title=OFFICER RANKS |url=http://rbdf.gov.bs/officer/ |website=rbdf.gov.bs |publisher=Royal Bahamas Defence Force |access-date=14 January 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Bangladesh Navy){{cite web |author1=Bangladesh Navy |title=Rank of Navy & Equivalent Rank |url=https://www.navy.mil.bd/Rank-of-Navy-&-Equivalent-Rank |website=navy.mil.bd |access-date=27 May 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|{{lang|ms|Komander}}
( Royal Brunei Navy){{cite web |title=Admiralty Ranks |url=https://navy.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/Admiralty%20Ranks.aspx |website=navy.mindef.gov.bn |publisher=Royal Brunei Navy |access-date=1 September 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Barbados Coast Guard)
File:Belize_Coast_Guard_OF-4.svg|Commander
(Belize Coast Guard)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Royal Canadian Navy){{cite web |title=Ranks and appointment |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/rank-appointment-insignia.html |website=canada.ca |date=23 November 2017 |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 May 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|{{lang|da|Kommandør}}
(Royal Danish Navy){{cite web |title=Søværnets Gradstegn |url=https://forsvaret.dk/globalassets/fko---forsvaret/dokumenter/gradstegn/-sovarnets-gradstegn--.pdf |website=forsvaret.dk |publisher=Danish Defence |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=da |date=2018}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Republic of Fiji Navy)
File:Finland-Navy-OF-4.svg|{{lang|fi|Komentaja}}
{{small|{{langx|sv|Kommendör}}}}
(Finnish Navy){{cite web |title=Sotilasarvot Puolustusvoimissa |url=https://puolustusvoimat.fi/sotilasarvot |website=puolustusvoimat.fi |publisher=Finnish Defence Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=fi}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Gambian Navy)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Ghana Navy)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Guyana Coast Guard)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
{{small|{{langx|hi|कमांडर|kamaandar}}}}
(Indian Navy){{cite web |title=Ranks & Insignia |url=https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/en/about-us/ranks-insignia.html |website=Join Indian Navy |access-date=12 April 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O5.svg|Commander
{{small|{{langx|ga|Ceannasaí}}}}
(Irish Naval Service){{cite web |title=Naval Service Rank Markings |url=http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/NS_Rank_Markings.png |website=military.ie |publisher=Defence Forces (Ireland) |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425021602/http://www.military.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/images/Info_Centre/Posters/rank_markings/NS_Rank_Markings.png |archive-date=25 April 2016}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Jamaican Coast Guard){{cite web |title=BADGES OF RANK |url=https://www.jdfweb.com/badges-of-rank/ |website=Official Jamaica Defence Force Website |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820143541/https://www.jdfweb.com/badges-of-rank/ |archive-date=20 August 2020}}
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O5.svg|Commander
(Liberian National Coast Guard){{cite web |url=http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Liberia/LR_Defense%20Act%20of%202008.pdf |title=Defense Act of 2008 |date=3 September 2008 |page=8 |access-date=20 November 2017}}
File:Generic-Navy-7.svg|{{lang|lt|Komandoras}}
(Lithuanian Naval Force){{cite web |title=Karių laipsnių ženklai |url=http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/kariu_laipsniu_zenklai_3554.html |website=kariuomene.kam.lt |publisher=Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania) |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=lt |archive-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911115805/http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/kariuomenes_atributika/kariu_laipsniu_zenklai_3554.html |url-status=dead }}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|{{lang|ms|Komander}}
(Royal Malaysian Navy){{cite web |title=Pangkat |url=http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |website=mafhq.mil.my |publisher=Malaysian Armed Forces |access-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429231449/http://www.mafhq.mil.my/index.php/my/mengenai-kami/kerjaya/pangkat |archive-date=29 April 2020 |language=ms}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Namibian Navy){{cite magazine |title=Government Notice |magazine=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia |date=20 August 2010 |volume=4547 |pages=99–102 |url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2010/4547.pdf |access-date=20 December 2021}}
File:Netherlands-Navy-OF-6.svg|{{lang|nl|Commandeur}}
(Royal Netherlands Navy){{cite web |title=De rangonderscheidingstekens van de krijgsmacht |url=https://www.defensie.nl/binaries/defensie/documenten/brochures/2021/01/15/rangen-krijgsmacht/rangonderscheidingstekens.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Netherlands) |access-date=18 March 2021 |date=19 December 2016 |language=nl}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Royal New Zealand Navy){{cite web |title=Badges of Rank |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |website=nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703193648/https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/corporate-documents/badges-of-rank/ |archive-date=3 July 2020}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Nigerian Navy){{cite book |last1=Smaldone |first1=Joseph P. |editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Helen Chapin |editor1-link=Helen Chapin Metz |title=Nigeria: a country study |series=Area Handbook |date=1992 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |lccn=92009026 |pages=296–297 |edition=5th |url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/frdcstdy.nigeriacountryst00metz_0/?sp=340 |access-date=21 October 2021 |chapter=National Security}}
File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|{{lang|no|Kommandør}}
(Royal Norwegian Navy){{cite web |title=Militære grader |url=https://www.forsvaret.no/om-forsvaret/uniformer-grader-medaljer/grader |website=forsvaret.no |publisher=Norwegian Armed Forces |access-date=26 May 2021 |language=no |date=4 February 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
{{small|{{langx|ur|کمانڈر|commander}}}}
(Pakistan Navy){{cite web |title=LIFE IN PN:RANKS |url=https://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ranks.html |website=www.paknavy.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Navy Official Website |access-date=7 August 2018}}
File:Generic-Navy-12.svg|{{lang|pl|Komandor}}
(Polish Navy){{cite web |title=Sposób noszenia odznak stopni wojskowych na umundurowaniu Marynarki Wojennej |url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/iwsp/u/27/96/27964313-a4b1-4c28-9ea2-08de33e7aa58/08c_oznaki_stopni_wojskowych_na_umundurowaniu_mw_ok.pdf |website=wojsko-polskie.pl |publisher=Armed Forces Support Inspectorate |access-date=7 June 2021 |language=pl}}
File:Romania-Navy-OF-5-Sleeve.svg|{{lang|ro|Comandor}}
(Romanian Naval Forces){{cite web |title=Grade militare (Military ranks) |url=https://www.defense.ro/foto/album6 |website=defense.ro |publisher=Romanian Defence Staff |access-date=1 February 2021 |language=ro}}
Romania-AirForce-OF-5 Sleeve.svg|{{lang|ro|Comandor}}
(Romanian Air Force)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Saint Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Sierra Leone Navy)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(South African Navy){{cite web |title=Rank Insignia |url=http://www.navy.mil.za/aboutus/Rank_Insignia.gif |website=navy.mil.za |publisher=Department of Defence (South Africa) |access-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518212959/http://www.navy.mil.za/aboutus/Rank_Insignia.gif |archive-date=18 May 2019}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Sri Lanka Navy){{cite web |title=Branches/ Ranks |url=https://www.navy.lk/branches-ranks.html |website=navy.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Navy |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619063013/https://www.navy.lk/branches-ranks.html |url-status=dead }}
File:Generic-Navy-8.svg|{{lang|sv|Kommendör}}
(Swedish Navy){{cite web|title=Nya gradbeteckningar införs|url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuellt/2019/10/nya-gradbeteckningar-infors/|publisher=Försvarsmakten|date=2019-10-01|access-date=2019-10-02}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Tanzania Naval Command)
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Tongan Maritime Force){{cite journal |title=Tonga Defence Services (Amendment) Regulations 2009 |journal=Tonga Government Gazette Supplement Extraordinary |date=10 May 2010 |volume=5 |pages=151–153 |url=https://ago.gov.to/cms/phocadownload/2010-regulations/TongaDefenceServices(Amendment)Regulations2009s.pdf |access-date=26 September 2021}}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard){{cite web |title=Rank Chart (Commissioned Officers) |url=http://69.0.195.188/HQ/Our-Organisation/Ranks-Chart-(Commissioned-Officers).aspx |website=69.0.195.188 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force |access-date=27 May 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
File:Generic-Navy-6.svg|Commander
(Royal Navy){{cite web |title=Shaping your career |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/navy-life/shaping-your-career |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=24 September 2021}}
File:US Navy O5 insignia.svg|Commander
(United States Navy){{cite web |title=U.S. Military Rank Insignia |url=https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Insignia/ |website=defense.gov |publisher=Department of Defense |access-date=13 January 2022}}
File:USCG O-5 insignia.svg|Commander
(United States Coast Guard)
Commander as a military appointment
For instance, as in various small colonial settlements (such as various Caribbean islands) commanding the garrison was the crux of the top job, the military title Commandeur could be used instead of a civilian gubernatorial style, not unlike the Portuguese captain-major.
=British Army=
In the British Army, the term "commander" is officially applied to the non-commissioned officer in charge of a section (section commander), vehicle (vehicle commander) or gun (gun commander), to the subaltern or captain commanding a platoon (platoon commander), or to the brigadier commanding a brigade (brigade commander). Other officers commanding units are usually referred to as the officer commanding (OC), commanding officer (CO), general officer commanding (GOC), or general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-C), depending on rank and position, although the term "commander" may be applied to them informally.
In the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry commander is a rank equivalent to major.
= Netherlands =
Commandeur as a title of colonial office was the case on the island of Tobago in the Dutch colony of Nieuw Walcheren.
=New Zealand Army=
The usage is similar/identical to the British Army, with the term "commander" having been applied to the colonel who was Commander, 2 Land Force Group, Linton Camp, and now to Commander, 1 Brigade.
=Spanish Armed Forces and ''Guardia Civil''=
In the Spanish Army, the Spanish Air Force and the marine infantry, the term commander is the literal translation of comandante, the Spanish equivalent of a Commonwealth major. The Guardia Civil shares the army ranks, and the officer commanding a house-garrison (usually an NCO or a lieutenant, depending on the size) is addressed as the comandante de puesto (post commander).
=United States Army=
In the United States Army, the term "commander" is officially applied to the commanding officer of army units; hence, there are company commanders, battalion commanders, brigade commanders, and so forth. At the highest levels of U.S. military command structure, "commander" also refers to what used to be called commander-in-chief, or CINC, until October 24, 2002, although the term CINC is still used in casual speech.
=United States Air Force=
In the United States Air Force, the term "commander" (abbreviated "CC" in office symbols, i.e. "OG/CC" for "operations group commander") is applied officially to the commanding officer of an Air Force unit; hence, there are flight commanders, squadron commanders, group commanders, wing commanders, numbered air force commanders, and commanders of major commands. In rank, a flight commander is typically a lieutenant or captain, a squadron commander is typically a major or lieutenant colonel, a group commander is typically a colonel, a wing commander is typically a senior colonel or a brigadier general, a numbered air force commander is a major general or lieutenant general, and the commander of a major command is a general.
=United States Space Force=
In the United States Space Force, the term "commander" is applied officially to the commanding officer of a Space Force unit; hence, there are squadron commanders, delta commanders, and commanders of field commands. In rank, a squadron commander is a lieutenant colonel, a delta commander is a colonel, and the commander of a field command is a major general or lieutenant general.
Commander as a non-military rank or title
=NASA rank=
In NASA spacecraft missions since the beginning of Project Gemini, one crew member on each spacecraft is designated as mission commander. The commander is the captain of the ship, and makes all real-time critical decisions on behalf of the crew and in coordination with the Mission Control Center (MCC).
= Use in aviation =
The title of aircraft commander is used in civil aviation to refer to the pilot in command (commonly referred to as "captain", which is technically an airline rank and not related to the commander's role on board the aircraft).
=British police rank=
File:Met Commander Epaulette.svg
Within the British police, Commander is a chief officer rank in the two police forces responsible for law enforcement within London, the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police. In both forces, the rank is senior to chief superintendent; in the Metropolitan Police it is junior to deputy assistant commissioner and in the City of London Police it is junior to assistant commissioner. In forces outside London, the rank equates to assistant chief constable which bears the same insignia.
The Metropolitan Police introduced the rank in 1946, after the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was split in two, with senior DACs keeping that rank and title and junior DACs being regraded as commanders. The Metropolitan Police also used the rank of deputy commander, ranking just below that of commander, between 1946 and 1968.
Officers in charge of the twelve geographical Basic Command Units are referred to as "BCU commander". However, the officers do not hold the rank of commander but instead hold the rank of chief superintendent. Prior to organisational change merging boroughs in to BCUs, officers in charge of policing each of the London's boroughs were given the title "borough commander". A previous exception to this was the borough commander of Westminster, who held the rank of commander due to the size, complexity, and high-profile nature of the borough.
The Metropolitan Police Service announced that by summer 2018 the rank would be phased out, along with that of chief inspector.{{Cite web |url=http://news.met.police.uk/news/met-police-to-modernise-its-rank-structure-191284 |title="Met police to modernise its rank structure", MPS website |access-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019142734/http://news.met.police.uk/news/met-police-to-modernise-its-rank-structure-191284 |archive-date=2016-10-19 |url-status=dead }} However, in August 2017 it was announced that the new Commissioner Cressida Dick had cancelled the plan to phase them out.{{Cite web|url=https://www.policeoracle.com/news/HR_personnel_and_staff_development/2017/Aug/17/met-cancels-plans-to-abolish-two-ranks_95557.html|title=Met cancels plan to abolish two ranks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825234448/https://www.policeoracle.com/news/HR_personnel_and_staff_development/2017/Aug/17/met-cancels-plans-to-abolish-two-ranks_95557.html|archive-date=2017-08-25|url-status=live|access-date=2017-08-25}}
The rank badge worn by a commander or an assistant chief constable consists of crossed tipstaves within a wreath. Within the Metropolitan Police Service, the tips of the tipstaves are blue and not red, unlike other forces. Until the abolition of the rank of deputy commander in 1968, however, a commander wore the same badge of rank as a deputy assistant commissioner.
=Australian police rank=
In Australia, commander is a rank used by the Victorian,{{Cite web |url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=21131 |title=Victoria Police Website |access-date=2009-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520132311/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?Media_ID=21131 |archive-date=2009-05-20 |url-status=live }} Tasmanian, Western Australian,{{Cite web |url=http://www.police.wa.gov.au/Aboutus/Rankinsignias/tabid/1242/Default.aspx |title=Western Australia Police Website |access-date=2009-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106215520/http://www.police.wa.gov.au/ABOUTUS/RankInsignias/tabid/1242/Default.aspx |archive-date=2008-01-06 |url-status=live }} South Australian, and Australian Federal police forces. The insignia consists of a crown over three bath stars in a triangular formation, equivalent to a brigadier in the army. In all four forces, it is junior to the rank of assistant commissioner, and senior to the rank of chief superintendent, with the exception of Western Australia and Victoria where it is senior to the rank of superintendent.
In New South Wales the position of commander is instated to officers (usually superintendents) in charge of a command or unit.
=American police rank=
{{main|Police ranks of the United States#Ranks}}
Some large police departments and sheriff's offices in the US have a commander rank. Most commonly, this is the next rank above captain. Examples of this include the Chicago Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, Portland Police Bureau and Rochester Police Department. In others, such as the Phoenix Police Department and Saint Paul Police Department, a commander rank is the next rank above lieutenant, and is equivalent to captain. In the Northport, Florida's police department, however, commanders are below captains.
A commander in the LAPD is equivalent to an inspector in other large US departments (such as the NYPD); the LAPD rank was originally called inspector as well, but was changed in 1974 to commander. The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia also uses the rank of commander, which is a grade above inspector and two grades above captain. In the Montgomery County, MD police department a commander is a captain assigned to command a police district. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office replaced the Assistant Chief rank with commander.{{cite web |title=JSO Organizational Chart |url=https://www.jaxsheriff.org/Your-Sheriff-s-Office/docs/JSO-Organizational-Chart.aspx |website=Jaxsheriff.org |publisher=Jacksonville Sheriff Office |access-date=22 January 2025}}
The insignia worn is commonly every insignia between major and major general, depending on the police or sheriff's department. Albuquerque Police Department commanders are captain equivalents, however, with the brass version of the captain's insignia. In some other police or sheriff's departments where the captains have brass insignias instead of silver, such as Florida's Lee County Sheriff's Department, commanders are above captains, and below majors, with the insignia being brass captain's bars with wreathes around. Northport's police commanders have the insignia of second lieutenants. Commander is also used as a title in certain circumstances, such as the commander of a squad of detectives, who would usually be of the rank of lieutenant, and in some police or sheriff's departments where commanders are ranks, officers or deputies of separate ranks are also referred to as commander by title.
=Canadian police rank=
The Montreal police force, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, uses the rank of commander (Commandant).{{cite web|url=http://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/carrieres/5_1_1_1_fonctions.asp|title=Positions|work=Service de police de la Ville de Montréal|access-date=30 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134724/http://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/carrieres/5_1_1_1_fonctions.asp|archive-date=2010-05-04|url-status=live}}
=Incident Command System=
In the Incident Command System the incident commander is in charge of the response to an emergency. The title may pass from person to person as the incident develops.
=Chivalric orders=
{{main|Commander (orders)}}
The title of commander is used in chivalric orders such as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta for a member senior to a knight. The title of knight commander is often used to denote an even higher rank. These conventions are also used by most of the continental orders of chivalry. The United Kingdom uses different classifications.
In most of the British orders of knighthood, the grade of knight (or dame) commander is the lowest grade of knighthood, but is above the grade of companion (which does not carry a knighthood). In the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire, the grade of commander is senior to the grade of lieutenant or officer, but junior to that of knight or dame commander. In the British Venerable Order of Saint John, a commander ranks below a knight.
See also
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Notes
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