Commander ( United States ) In the United States , commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title , depending on the branch of service . It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military , particularly in police and law enforcement . Commander as a rank . Naval rank . In the United States Navy , the United States Coast Guard , the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps , commander ( CDR ) is a senior officer rank , with the pay grade of O - 5 . Commander ranks above lieutenant commander and below captain . Commander is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the other uniformed services . Notably , it is the first rank at which the holder wears an embellished cap , whereas officers of the other services are entitled to embellishment at O - 4 rank . A commander in the U . S . Navy may command a frigate , destroyer , submarine , aviation squadron or small shore activity , or may serve on a staff ( typically as executive officer ) or as executive officer of a larger vessel . An officer in the rank of commander who commands a vessel may also be referred to as " captain " as a courtesy title , or informally referred to as " skipper " . Historically , the rank of " commander " was originally called " Master Commandant " in the U . S . Navy . This rank corresponded in function to " Master and Commander " in the Royal Navy . It was later changed in 1838 to its modern form . Although it exists largely as a maritime training organization , the U . S . Maritime Service has the grade of commander . The commission is appointed by the President via the Secretary of Transportation , making it a federally recognized rank with a corresponding paygrade . U . S . police ranks . The Los Angeles Police Department was one of first American police departments to use this rank . A commander in the LAPD is equivalent to an Inspector in other US departments ( such as the NYPD ) ; the LAPD rank was originally called Inspector as well , but was changed in 1974 to Commander after senior officers voiced a preference for the more military - sounding rank . The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia uses the rank of commander . The rank falls between those of Inspector and Assistant Chief . The Rochester , New York Police Department ( RPD ) uses the rank of commander . Higher than Captain and below Deputy Chief , the rank is achieved by appointment . Commander is the rank held by the two patrol division heads and other Commanders fill various administrative roles . The St . Paul Police Department ( MN ) is another police force that uses the rank of commander . In the St . Paul Police department , commanders serve as the chief of the district / unit that they oversee . Many police departments in the Midwest use the rank of commander . It is equivalent to a lieutenant in most other departments , being above a sergeant and below a deputy chief or captain . Commander is also utilized by larger sheriff ' s departments in the United States , with the rank usually falling between Chief Deputy and Captain , three positions removed from the sheriff . Commander as an appointment . U . S . Army and Marine Corps . In the United States Army and United States Marine Corps , 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 . The soldier in charge of a tank , for example the M1 Abrams , is also called its " commander " . U . S . Air Force . In the Air Force , the term " commander " ( abbreviated " CC " ) is officially applied to the commanding officer of an Air Force unit ; hence , there are squadron commanders , group commanders , wing commanders , numbered air force ( NAF ) commanders , major command ( MAJCOM ) commanders and so forth . In rank , a squadron commander is typically a lieutenant colonel , although some smaller squadrons may be commanded by a major . A group commander is typically a mid - grade colonel , while a wing commander is typically a senior colonel or a brigadier general . A numbered air force commander is normally a lieutenant general , although some may be in the rank of major general , especially in the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard . The MAJCOM commanders are normally in the rank of general or lieutenant general . United States police title . 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 .