Commodore (United States)

Commodore (United States) is a naval rank in the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The rank of Commodore is above Captain (United States O-6)}} and below Rear Admiral (Lower Half). It is equivalent to the rank of Brigadier General (United States)]) in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. The rank of Commodore is also used in the United States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

● Etymology and History

The term Commodore (rank) originated in the 17th century, derived from the Dutch language word "kommodore," which was used to describe a high-ranking naval officer in the Dutch Navy. The rank of Commodore was first used in the United States Navy during the American Revolutionary War, when John Barry was appointed as a Commodore in 1776. The rank was also used during the Quasi-War and the War of 1812, with notable Commodores including Stephen Decatur and Isaac Hull. The rank of Commodore was also used in the United States Revenue Cutter Service, which later became the United States Coast Guard. Notable Commodores in the United States Coast Guard include Alexander V. Fraser and Ellsworth P. Bertholf.

● Rank and Insignia

The rank of Commodore is denoted by a single star on the shoulder board or sleeve stripe, and is equivalent to the rank of One-star general in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. The insignia for a Commodore in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard is a single star above a gold eagle on the shoulder board or sleeve stripe. The insignia for a Commodore in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is a single star above a gold anchor or caduceus on the shoulder board or sleeve stripe. Notable institutions that use the rank of Commodore include the United States Naval Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy, which are all overseen by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Homeland Security.

● Responsibilities and Authority

A Commodore in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard is typically responsible for commanding a task force or a squadron of ships, and may also serve as a staff officer or executive officer on a larger ship or at a shore-based installation. A Commodore may also serve as a commanding officer of a naval base or a coast guard station, such as the Naval Base San Diego or the Coast Guard Station Cape May. Notable Commodores who have served in these roles include Hyman G. Rickover and Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., who both played important roles in the development of the United States Navy's nuclear submarine program. A Commodore may also serve as a liaison officer to other military branches, such as the United States Army or the United States Air Force, or to other government agencies, such as the National Security Agency or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

● Notable Commodores

Notable Commodores in the United States Navy include John Paul Jones, who is considered the father of the United States Navy, and Matthew Perry, who led the Perry Expedition to Japan in 1853. Other notable Commodores include Oliver Hazard Perry, who won the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, and Thomas Macdonough, who won the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812. Notable Commodores in the United States Coast Guard include Joshua James, who was a lifesaving station keeper and is considered one of the most decorated Coast Guardsmen in history, and Ida Lewis, who was a lighthouse keeper and is considered one of the most famous Coast Guardswomen in history. Notable institutions that have honored these Commodores include the United States Naval Academy, which has named several buildings and ships after them, including the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) and the USS Matthew Perry (DDG-70).

● Modern Usage and Equivalent Ranks

The rank of Commodore is still used in the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The rank is equivalent to the rank of Brigadier General (United States)]) in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. The rank of Commodore is also used in other countries, including the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy. Notable equivalent ranks include the Flotilla Admiral in the German Navy and the Counter Admiral in the French Navy. The rank of Commodore has also been used in fiction, including in the Star Trek franchise, where it is a high-ranking officer in the United Federation of Planets. Category:United States Navy ranks