Captain

Captain is a rank of officer in many naval services and space forces, most notably Earth Starfleet and its Federation counterpart. The title of captain is also used in a more general sense to refer to any individual, civilian or otherwise, who is the commanding officer of a ship. However, there are times when a captain may not be the commanding officer of a ship, serving as a department head, first officer or adjutant to an admiral or a more senior captain. 3 cases include Spock, who served as first officer under James T. Kirk onboard the USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A in spite of holding the rank of captain; Montgomery Scott, who served as captain of engineering on board several ships; and Geordi La Forge, who briefly served as captain of engineering onboard the USS Enterprise-E before returning to his previous rank. 
Starfleet captains are sometimes referred to as "Skippers". (DS9 episode: "In the Pale Moonlight", DS9 -  Mission Gamma novel: Lesser Evil)
== Naval captains ==
Captain is the most senior officer rank, a grade higher than a commander and a grade below either commodore or rear admiralin most rank structures, although some organizations will refer to a captain as a commodore in title only, to show the said captain's seniority over other captains. The Federation also once had a rank of vice commodore, falling below commodore but above captain, and a title of fleet captain that is considered to outrank a captain. The captain rank is roughly equivalent with the authority of a colonel of military forces, although some militaries have an unrelated rank of captain that is equivalent to a naval lieutenant.
====== Equivalent ranks ======
* The Blood Many has a strict rank code which places an avedon at the head of their ships, the so-called Blood savages. When Shucorion joined the crew of UFPF Challenger, he took somewhat of a demotion to first officer status, as he had previously been a captain-equivalent avedon. (TOS -  New Earth  novels: Wagon Train to the Stars, Challenger; CHA - Gateways  novel: Chainmail)
* The Breen have a sort of rank or title that places a thot in control of their ships.
* In the Cardassian language, gul is a Cardassian officer rank title which, in translation to Federation Standard, is approximately equivalent to a captain. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, et al.)
* The Ferengi rank/title most similar to captain is DaiMon, although like much of Ferengi culture the title is distinct and different in that it carries a mercenary ethic and prices to match. (Star Trek: The Next Generation, et al.)
* In Klingonese, a ship's captain is referred to as HoD. (ST reference: Klingon for the Galactic Traveler)
* The Romulan Star Empire has two ranks, commander (rh'iov in the Romulan language) and legate, that are analogous to a captain's standing. (TOS -  TLE  novel: The Lost Years; NF  novels: After the Fall, Missing in Action)
* Rigger is the Skeen's designation of a ship's captain. (VOY  novel: Acts of Contrition)
* Vulcan ships refer to their commanding officer as captain as well, although they sometimes use the terminology "commander", a type of reference shared with their offshoot cousins, the Romulans. (Star Trek: Enterprise, et al.). 
== Insignia ==
=== 22nd century ===
In the Earth Starfleet uniforms of the 22nd century, captains wore pin insignia of four rectangular pips. Their service uniforms also had sleeve insignia of a two white bands with a division color-coded stripe between. (ENT episode: "These Are the Voyages...") 
====== 23rd century ======
By the era of the 23rd century, Federation Starfleet, captains' uniforms had a sleeve insignia of a two gold braids with a broken braid in between. A captain's dress uniform was similar to a commander's, with thick gold braid at the neck and closure, with added thin gold piping along the shoulder seam. (TOS episode: "Court Martial") 
In the early 2270s, captain's uniforms had the same sleeve insignia, and an epaulet that also bore two solid stripes and a broken stripe. (TOS  comic: "Domain of the Dragon God!") 
In the uniforms of the 2280s, captains wore pin insignia with a three central bars attached to two command officer flag devices, above and below. (ST reference: The Star Trek Encyclopedia) 
== Captain insignia ==
Starfleet captain insignia 	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia	Starfleet captain insignia
era 	general wear 	command division 	command division 	command division 	command division 	operations division 	operations division 	operations division 	operations division 	sciences division 	sciences division 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
era 	general wear 	command 	tactical/military 	tactical/military 	flight-engineering
(admin, pilot, engineer)	flight-engineering
(admin, pilot, engineer)	security 	special services 	sci-ops
(ops, sci & tac ops)	sci-ops
(ops, sci & tac ops)	medical 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Earth Starfleet ranks 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2160s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2230s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2240s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2260s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s)(Built to Lieutenant)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2270s-2350s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2350s-2366) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2366-2373) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2366-2373) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2373-2386) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2386-2410) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2800s) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
== Alternate captain insignia ==
Starfleet alternate captain insignia 	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia	Starfleet alternate captain insignia
era 	command division 	command division 	command division 	command division 	operations division 	operations division 	operations division 	operations division 	sciences division 	sciences division 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2250s) alt 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Federation Starfleet ranks (2386-2410) alt	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
== Positions and lists ==
=== Earth & Federation Starfleet ===
: See: Starfleet captains 
====== Klingon Defense Force ======
* Bek'Ta
* B'Tak
* Cha'DIch, son of hiJaK
* Ch'Targh
* Dorrek, son of M'Raq
* Gatrell
* Grannk
* G'Zar
* H'Ta, son of Kahmar
* Kaaj, son of Torg
* Kalan
* Kang, son of K'naiah
* Kargan, son of Talak
* Kasak sutai-Khornezh
* Kaul
* K'Draq, daughter of Sangra
* Kert sutai Restok
* Kevas
* Klaa
* Klag, son of M'Raq
* K'mpec
* Koloth
* Konet sutai Cultuic
* Korris
* K'retok
* Krenn
* Krill sutai Limur
* K'Tar
* K'Temoc
* K'Vada
* Qurag
* R'taga
* Sotugh 
====== Romulan Mining Guild ======
* Nero 
== Appendices ==
=== Connections ===
Connections
 	Enlisted ranks	Enlisted ranks	Enlisted ranks	Enlisted ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Commissioned ranks	Flag ranks 	Flag ranks 	Flag ranks 	Flag ranks	Flag ranks
Klingon Defense Forcenaval & marine	ENL (bekk) 	PO/LDR (DevwI')
----CPO/TROOP LDR (QaS-DevwI')	PO/LDR (DevwI')
----CPO/TROOP LDR (QaS-DevwI')	PO/LDR (DevwI')
----CPO/TROOP LDR (QaS-DevwI')	ENS (lagh) 	LT JG 	LT (Sogh) 	LT CMDR 	CMDR (la') 	CAPT (HoD) 	CAPT (HoD) 	CDORE (totlh)	ADM ('aj) 	ADM ('aj) 	ADM ('aj) 	FADM
Klingon Defense Forcenaval & marine	ENL (mang) 2C
----ENL (mang) 1C
----LCPL	CPL (Da') 	SGT (bu')
----SGT MAJ	SGT (bu')
----SGT MAJ	LT JG 	LT (Sogh) 	CAPT 	MAJ 	LT COL 	COL 	COL 	BRIG ('ech) 	MAJ GEN 	GEN (Sa') 	GEN (Sa') 	GEN (Sa')
Earth SF 	CREW 	PO2
----PO1 	PO2
----PO1 	CPO
----SCPO
----MCPO	ENS 	LT 	LT 	CMDR 	CMDR 	CAPT
----FCAPT
----VICE CDORE	CAPT
----FCAPT
----VICE CDORE	CDORE 	RADM / 2ADM	VADM / 3ADM	4ADM 	FADM / 5ADM
----GADM
Starfleet & SFMC 	CREW 	PO2
----PO1 	PO2
----PO1 	CPO
----SCPO
----MCPO	ENS JG
----ENS
----ENS 1C	LT JG 	LT 	LT CMDR 	CDR 	CAPT
----FCAPT
----VICE CDORE	CAPT
----FCAPT
----VICE CDORE	CDORE
----1ADM	RADM / 2ADM	VADM / 3ADM	4ADM 	FADM / 5ADM
----GADM
Starfleet & SFMC 	PVT 	CPL 	SGT
----MASTER SGT	SGT
----MASTER SGT	SUBLT
----2ND LT 	1ST LT 	CAPT 	MAJOR 	LT COL 	COL 	COL 	BRIG 	GEN 	GEN 	GEN 	GEN
US military(& US Navy) 	PVT 	CPL 	SGT
----MASTER SGT	SGT
----MASTER SGT	2ND LT 	1ST LT 	CAPT 	MAJ 	LT COL 	COL 	COL 	BRIG GEN 	MAJ GEN 	LT GEN 	GEN 	GEN
US military(& US Navy) 	CREW 	PO 	PO 	CPO
----SCPO
----MCPO	ENS 	LT JG 	LT 	LT CMDR 	CMDR 	CAPT 	CAPT 	RADM LH 	RADM UH 	VADM 	ADM 	FADM
Vulcan 	 	 	 	Subaltern 	Altern 	SLt 	SLt 	Lt 	Maj 	SCdr 	SCdr 	CptCmdr 	Min 	Min 	Admin 	
Andorian 	 	 	 	Lt 	Lt 	Lt 	Cdr 	Cdr 	Cdr 	Cpt 	Gen 	Gen 	Gen 	Gen 	Gen