Changes: Flag officer

Revision as of 16:35, 5 September 2007

Charles Whatley, a flag officer of the Federation Starfleet in 2373.

A flag officer is both a historic naval and military rank and a modern Starfleet title. It generally refers to all officers of Commodore/Rear Admiral rank or higher. The term flag officer stems from the historical naval practice that when a person of admiral rank was posted to a ship, a flag denoting his rank and presence was flown. In an age of visual signals, the ships under the admiral's command would look to the flagship for orders and instructions. The term traditionally denotes any officer that commands a squadron of vessels, possibly in addition to one under their direct command.

Not all flag officers are required to have commanded a starship in their career, as is exemplified as was the case of Commodore Stocker. (TOS: "The Deadly Years")

According to Starfleet regulations state that "when a captain is unfit, physically or mentally, a competency hearing is mandatory," convened by the first officer and headed by a Starfleet flag officer. Additionally, when all senior officers are incapable to commanding a starship, an individual of "flag rank is forced by regulations to assume command." (TOS: "The Deadly Years")

Starfleet General Order 15 states that "No flag officer shall beam into a hazardous area without armed escort." (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

According to Captain Kathryn Janeway, with regards to the Omega particle and Omega Directive, "Only starship captains and Federation flag officers have been briefed on the nature of this threat." (VOY: "The Omega Directive")

Flag officer ranks in Starfleet

Fleet Admiral
Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral (aka Rear Admiral, upper half)
Commodore (aka Rear Admiral, lower half)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Charles Whatley.jpg|thumb|[[Charles Whatley]], a flag officer of the [[Federation]] Starfleet in [[2373]].]]
-A '''flag officer''' is both a [[history|historic]] naval and [[military]] [[rank]] and a modern [[Starfleet]] title.  It generally refers to all [[officer]]s of [[Commodore]]/[[Rear Admiral]] rank or higher. The title '''flag officer''' stems from the historical military practice that when a person of admiral or general rank is present at a ceremony, a flag denoting their rank is present. The term traditionally denotes any [[officer]] that [[commanding officer|commands]] a [[Starfleet Fleets|squadron]] of [[vessel]]s, possibly in addition to one under their direct command.
+A '''flag officer''' is both a [[history|historic]] naval and [[military]] [[rank]] and a modern [[Starfleet]] title.  It generally refers to all [[officer]]s of [[Commodore]]/[[Rear Admiral]] rank or higher. The term '''flag officer''' stems from the historical naval practice that when a person of admiral rank was posted to a ship, a flag denoting his rank and presence was flown. In an age of visual signals, the ships under the admiral's command would look to the [[flagship]] for orders and instructions.  The term traditionally denotes any [[officer]] that [[commanding officer|commands]] a [[Starfleet Fleets|squadron]] of [[vessel]]s, possibly in addition to one under their direct command.
 Not all flag officers are required to have commanded a starship in their career, as is exemplified as was the case of [[Commodore]] [[Stocker]]. ({{TOS|The Deadly Years}})