View source for Commodore (rank)

{{Short description|Naval officer rank}}
{{Other uses of|Commodore}}
{{Military ranks}}
{{Navalranks}}

'''Commodore''' is a senior [[military rank|naval rank]] used in many [[navy|navies]] which is equivalent to [[brigadier]] or [[brigadier general]] and [[air commodore]]. It is superior to a navy [[Captain (Navy)|captain]], but below a [[rear admiral]]. It is either regarded as the most junior of the [[flag officer]]s rank or may not hold the jurisdiction of a flag officer at all depending on the officer's appointment. Non-English-speaking nations commonly use the rank of [[flotilla admiral]], [[counter admiral]], or [[senior captain]] as an equivalent, although counter admiral may also correspond to ''rear admiral lower half'' abbreviated as [[Rear admiral|RDML]].

Traditionally, "commodore" is the title for any officer assigned to command more than one ship, even temporarily, much as "captain" is the traditional title for the commanding officer of a single ship even if the officer's official title in the service is a lower rank. As an official rank, a commodore typically commands a [[flotilla]] or [[squadron (naval)|squadron]] of ships as part of a larger [[task force]] or [[naval fleet]] commanded by an [[admiral]].  A commodore's ship is typically designated by the flying of a [[broad pennant]], as compared to an admiral's flag.

"Commodore" is typically regarded as a [[one-star rank]] with a [[NATO]] code of [[OF-6]], known in the U.S. as "[[rear admiral]] (lower half)", but whether it is regarded as a [[flag rank]] varies among countries.<ref>Whether "commodore" is a [[flag rank]] or not varies by country. Usually, "rear admiral" is the first of the "flag ranks". However, it was not until 2001 that the UK made "commodore" a "flag rank", and changed the shoulder rank insignia (although not the cuff rings) of the higher ranking admirals accordingly. Australia made this change in the mid-1990s, and also changed the commodore rank insignia to include a star.</ref>

It is sometimes abbreviated as "Cdre" in British Royal Navy, "CDRE" in the US Navy, "Cmdre" in the Royal Canadian Navy, "COMO" in the Spanish Navy and in some navies speaking the [[Spanish language]], or "CMDE" as used in the Indian Navy and in navies of several other countries.<ref>The "Cdre" abbreviation for the OF-6 rank of commodore may be confused with the "Cmdr" abbreviation for the OF-4 rank of "[[commander]]".</ref>

==Etymology==
The rank of commodore derives from the [[French language|French]] ''commandeur'', which was the second highest rank in the [[orders of knighthood]], and in [[Military order (monastic society)|military orders]] the title of the knight in charge of a [[commandery]].

==History==
The [[Dutch Navy]] also used the rank of ''[[commandeur]]'' from the end of the 16th century for a variety of temporary positions, until it became a conventional permanent rank in 1955. The [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] has adopted the English spelling of "commodore" for an equivalent rank.

In the [[Royal Navy]], [[commodore (Royal Navy)|the position]] was introduced in the 17th century to combat the cost of appointing more admirals—a costly business with a fleet as large as the Royal Navy's at that time.

The rank of commodore was at first a position created as a temporary title to be bestowed upon captains who commanded [[Squadron (naval)|squadrons]] of more than one vessel. In many navies, the rank of commodore was merely viewed as a [[senior captain]] position, whereas other naval services bestowed upon the rank of commodore the prestige of [[flag officer]] status.

=== United States ===
{{Main|Commodore (United States)}}
In 1899, the substantive rank of commodore was discontinued in the [[United States Navy]], but revived during World War II in both the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Coast Guard]]. It was discontinued as a rank in these services during the postwar period, but as an appointment, the title "commodore" was then used to identify senior [[captain (U.S. Navy)|U.S. Navy captains]] who commanded squadrons of more than one vessel or functional air wings or air groups that were not part of a carrier air wing or carrier air group. Concurrently, until the early 1980s, U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard captains selected for promotion to the rank of [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]] (lower half), would wear the same insignia as rear admiral (upper half), i.e., two silver stars for collar insignia or sleeve braid of one wide and one narrow gold stripe, even though they were actually only equivalent to one-star officers and paid at the one-star rate.

To correct this inequity, the rank of commodore as a single-star flag officer was reinstated by both services in the early 1980s. This immediately caused confusion with those senior U.S. Navy captains commanding destroyer squadrons, submarine squadrons, functional air wings and air groups, and so on, who held the temporary "title" of commodore while in their major command billet. As a result of this confusion, the services soon renamed the new one-star rank [[commodore admiral]] (CADM) within the first six months following the rank's reintroduction. However, this was considered an awkward title and the one-star flag rank was renamed a few months later, giving it its current title of rear admiral (lower half), later abbreviated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard as RDML. The [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]], and [[NOAA Commissioned Corps]], whose rank structures follow the naval pattern, also use this title and abbreviation.

The "title" of commodore continues to be used in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard for those senior captains in command of organizations consisting of groups of ships or submarines organized into [[Squadron (naval)|squadrons]]; air wings or air groups of multiple [[Squadron (aviation)|aviation squadrons]] other than carrier air wings (the latter whose commanders still use the title "[[Commander, Air Group|CAG]]"); explosive ordnance disposal ([[Explosive Ordnance Disposal|EOD]]), mine warfare and special warfare ([[United States Navy SEALs|SEAL]]) groups; Mobile Inshore Underwater Warfare (MIUW) groups; and construction ([[SeaBee]]) regiments. Although not flag officers, modern day commodores in the U.S. Navy rate a blue and white command pennant, also known as a [[broad pennant]], that is normally flown at their headquarters facilities ashore or from ships that they are embarked aboard when they are the [[Senior Officer Present Afloat|Senior Officer Present Afloat (SOPA)]].

===Argentina===
In the Argentine Navy, the position of commodore was created in the late 1990s, and is usually, but not always, issued to senior captains holding rear-admirals' positions. It is not a rank but a distinction and, as such, can be issued by the chief of staff without congressional approval. Its equivalents are colonel-major in the Army and commodore-major in the Air Force. It is usually—but incorrectly—referred to as "navy commodore", to avoid confusion with the "air force commodore", which is equivalent to the navy's captain and army's colonel. The sleeve lace is identical to that of the Royal Navy, and wears one star on the epaulette.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==Naval rank==
* [[Commodore (Canada)]]
* [[Commodore (Finland)]]
* [[Commodore (India)]]
* [[Commodore (Sri Lanka)]]
* [[Commodore (Royal Navy)]]
* [[Commodore (United States)]]
* [[Commodore (Pakistan)]]
* ''[[Kommodore]]''

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center">
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|{{lang|es|Comodoro de marina}}<br />([[Argentine Navy]])<ref name="Argentina">{{cite web|title=Grados Militares|url=https://www.fuerzas-armadas.mil.ar/GradosMilitares.aspx|website=fuerzas-armadas.mil.ar|publisher=Joint Chiefs of Staff (Argentina)|access-date=27 May 2021|language=es|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331072546/https://www.fuerzas-armadas.mil.ar/GradosMilitares.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Royal Australian Navy]])<ref name="Australia">{{cite web|title=Badges of rank|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901144804/http://www.defence.gov.au/images/Badges_of_rank.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-01 |url-status=live|website=defence.gov.au|publisher=Department of Defence (Australia)|access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Royal Bahamas Defence Force]])<ref>{{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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Bangladesh Navy]])<ref name="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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Barbados Coast Guard]])
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />{{small|{{langx|fr|Commodore}}}}<br />([[Royal Canadian Navy]])<ref name="Canada">{{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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O8.svg|{{lang|es|Comodoro}}<br />([[Chilean Navy]])<ref name="Chile_Navy">{{cite web|title=Los grados jerárquicos de la Armada|url=https://www.armada.cl/armada/nuestra-armada/los-grados-jerarquicos-de-la-armada/2017-08-29/095559.html|website=armada.cl/|publisher=Chilean Navy|access-date=27 May 2021|language=es|date=7 May 2014}}</ref>
File:Croatia-Navy-OF-6.svg|{{lang|hr|Komodor}}<br />([[Croatian Navy]])<ref name="Croatia">{{cite web|title=Oznake činova|url=http://www.osrh.hr/#rubData/HTML/HR/RAZNO/OZNAKE/20190401_Galerija_oznaka/Galerija_oznaka_HR.htm|website=osrh.hr|publisher=Republic of Croatia Armed Forces|access-date=26 May 2021|language=hr|date=1 April 2019}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|{{lang|et|Kommodoor}}<br />([[Estonian Navy]])<ref name="Estonia_Navy">{{cite web|title=Sümboolika: Mereväe Auastmed|url=https://mil.ee/kaitsevagi/kaitsevae-symboolika/#t-merevae-auastmed|website=mil.ee|publisher=Estonian Defence Forces|access-date=26 May 2021|language=et}}</ref>
File:Ethiopia-Navy-OF-6.svg|{{lang|am|ኮሞዶር}}<br />{{lang|am-Latn|Komodori}}<br />([[Ethiopian Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Republic of Fiji Navy]])
File:Finland-Navy-OF-5.svg|{{lang|fi|Kommodori}}<br />{{small|{{langx|sv|Kommodor}}}}<br />([[Finnish Navy]])<ref name="Finland">{{cite web|title=Sotilasarvot Puolustusvoimissa|url=https://puolustusvoimat.fi/sotilasarvot|website=puolustusvoimat.fi|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=26 May 2021|language=fi}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Gambian Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Ghana Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Guyana Defence Force#Coast Guard|Guyana Coast Guard]])
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />{{small|{{langx|hi|कमोडोर|Kamodor}}}}<br />([[Indian Navy]])<ref name="India_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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O8.svg|Commodore<br />{{small|({{langx|ga|Ceannasóir}})}}<br />([[Irish Naval Service]])<ref name="Ireland_Navy">{{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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Jamaica Defence Force#JDF Coast Guard|Jamaican Coast Guard]])<ref name="Jamaica">{{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}}</ref>
File:Montenegro-Navy-OF-6.svg|{{lang|cnr|Komodor}}<br />([[Montenegrin Navy]])<ref name="Montenegro">{{cite journal|title=IV. Izgled Činova u Vojsci|journal=Official Gazette of Montenegro|date=16 August 2010|volume=50/10|pages=22–28|url=https://wapi.gov.me/download-preview/f21585eb-2399-4cf3-ab40-7f0e245093be?version=1.0|access-date=17 September 2021|language=cnr}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Royal New Zealand Navy]])<ref name="NewZealand">{{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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Nigerian Navy]])<ref name="Nigeria">{{cite book|last1=Smaldone|first1=Joseph P.|editor1-last=Metz |editor1-first=Helen Chapin |editor-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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />{{small|{{langx|ur|کموڈور|Commodore}}}}<br />([[Pakistan Navy]])<ref name="Pakistan Navy Official Websites">{{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|archive-date=24 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124140612/https://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ranks.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Papua New Guinea Defence Force#Maritime Element|Papua New Guinea Maritime Element]])
File:PN CDRE BlkDr-Slv.svg|Commodore<br />([[Philippine Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|{{lang|pt|Comodoro}}<br />([[Portuguese Navy]])<ref name="Portugal_Navy">{{cite web|title=Os Postos|url=https://www.marinha.pt/pt/a-marinha/Paginas/postos.aspx|website=marinha.pt|access-date=26 February 2021|language=pt}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-(star)-O9.svg|{{lang|sr|Комодор}}<br />{{lang|sr-Latn|Komodor}}<br />([[Serbian River Flotilla]])<ref name="Serbia">{{cite web|title=ЧИНОВИ У ВОЈСЦИ СРБИЈЕ|url=http://www.vs.rs/sr_cyr/o-vojsci/obelezja-i-oznake/cinovi-u-vojsci-srbije|website=vs.rs|publisher=Serbian Armed Forces|access-date=7 June 2021|language=sr}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Sierra Leone Navy]])
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Sri Lanka Navy]])<ref name="SriLanka_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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Tanzania Naval Command]])
File:Generic-Navy-9.svg|Commodore<br />([[Tongan Maritime Force]])<ref name="Tonga">{{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}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard]])<ref name="Trinidad&Tobago_Officer">{{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=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
File:Ukraine-Navy-OF-6.svg|{{lang|uk|Коммодор}}<br />{{lang|uk-Latn|Kommodor}}<br />([[Ukrainian Navy]])<ref name="Ukraine">{{cite web|title=НАКАЗ 20.11.2017 № 606|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1502-17#Text|website=zakon.rada.gov.ua|publisher=Ministry of Justice of Ukraine|access-date=2 June 2021|language=uk|date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
File:Generic-Navy-9b.svg|Commodore<br />([[Royal Navy]])<ref name="UK_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}}</ref>
</gallery>

==Air force ranks==
Commodore, in Spanish ''comodoro'', is a rank in the [[Argentine Air Force]]. This rank is the equivalent of a [[colonel]] in the [[Argentine Army]], and a colonel or [[group captain]] in other air forces of the world. The Argentine rank below commodore is the rank of vice-commodore (Spanish ''vicecomodoro'') equivalent to a [[lieutenant-colonel]] in the Argentine Army, and a lieutenant-colonel or [[Wing Commander (rank)|wing commander]] in other air forces.

Commodore is a rank in the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]. It is a [[one-star rank]] and has essentially the same rank insignia as the British [[air commodore]].

Many air forces use the rank of [[air commodore]]. This rank was first used by the [[Royal Air Force]] and is now used in many countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand and Zimbabwe. It is the equivalent rank to the navy rank of "commodore", and the army ranks of [[brigadier]] and [[brigadier general]].

The German air force used the concept of a unit commodore for the commander of a wing, usually in the rank of colonel (OF-5).

==Merchant Service (Merchant Marine) rank and Yacht Club chief directors==
<!-- An internal link from [[RMS Titanic]] is targeted to this section. Please change the link on that page if you change the section name here! Thanks. -->
Commodore is also a title held by many captains as recognition of exceptional navigation ability and seagoing seniority in the Merchant Service, and by the directors of a few yacht clubs and boating associations. Commodores 'in command' as Master aboard Merchant Marine ships wear distinctive rank and cap insignia denoting their honorific high rank position. In a few country the honorific high position of commodore it is indicated with the high rank denomination of [[senior captain]]. Traditionally, commodore is the title of the president of a yacht club.

==Convoy commodore==

During wartime, a shipping [[convoy]] will have a ranking officer—sometimes an active-duty naval [[commissioned officer|officer]], at other times a [[civilian]] [[Master Mariner|master]] or retired naval officer—designated as the ''convoy commodore''. This title is not related to the individual{{'}}s military rank (if any), but instead is the title of the senior individual responsible for the overall operation of the [[merchant ship]]s and naval [[auxiliary ship]]s that make up the convoy. The convoy commodore does not command the convoy{{'}} escort forces (if any), which are commanded by a naval officer who serves as escort commander.

==Civilian use==

===Commodore in Yachting Leadership===
Civilian [[yacht club]]s, yachting associations and fellowships<ref>{{cite web |title=International Bridge of IYFR |url=http://www.iyfr.net/new/international-bridge |website=International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians |publisher=IYFR |access-date=23 Nov 2020}}</ref> with formal hierarchical structures, began to use the title "commodore" in countries around the world<ref>[[Royal Malta Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[Royal Thames Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[Royal Cork Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[New York Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[Golden Gate Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[Royal Natal Yacht Club]]</ref><ref>[[List of yacht clubs]]</ref> for their presidents in the early twentieth century<ref>{{cite book |last1=Publication |first1=Official |title=Yachting Yearbook 2020 |date=1 April 2020 |publisher=Pacific Inter-Club Yachting Association |pages=1–416 |edition=99th}}</ref> along with "vice commodore" in the same manner as "vice president,"and "rear-commodore" and "port captain' or "international bridge member" in the same manner as board members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.easternyc.org/page/about_the_club/council |title=Council |year=2013 |publisher=Eastern Yacht Club |location=Marblehead, Mass. |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606033030/http://www.easternyc.org/page/about_the_club/council |archive-date=6 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Commodores, vice-commodores and rear-commodores are also known as civilian [[flag officer]]s because they have an [[epaulette]]s, [[regalia]] and [[maritime flag]]s with designated symbols and number of stars for their ranks.  Many of the clubs that are more than a century old, such as the [[Los Angeles Yacht Club]] have formal ceremonies, where commodores from more than 100 surrounding yacht clubs, flag officers of the US Navy and Coast Guard attend a ceremony at the beginning of the year.  The ceremony includes a bagpipe entrance, a presentation of the country flag by commissioned officers of the country's navy and a cannon shot upon the raising of each individual officer's flags on a flag staff, (also known as [[flagpoles]]) for each flag officer (commodore, vice commodore, rear commodore) as their term of office officially begins. Sometimes a trumpet fanfare is also include for special occasions like ribbon cutting in 2019 for the 50th [[Transpacific Yacht Race]]. Salutes are given to commodores for special ceremonies, including opening days of the racing season.

==Other uses==

The [[U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary]] also employs variants of the ''title'' of commodore.  Members of the Auxiliary serve in the Coast Guard's [[Auxiliaries|uniformed auxiliary service]] and they do not have military rank, but who do wear modified U.S. Coast Guard uniforms and U.S. military-style officer rank insignia to indicate office.  Auxiliary members who have been elected or appointed to positions in the highest levels of the organization, similar in nature to active and reserve rear admirals and vice admirals use the term commodore (e.g., district commodore, assistant national commodore, deputy national commodore, national commodore, etc.).  These Coast Guard auxiliarists may permanently append the title commodore, sometimes abbreviated COMO, to their names (e.g., Commodore James A. Smith, National Commodore; or COMO Jim Smith, (NACO)).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/cginfo/uniforms/insignia-national.asp |title=USCGAux Insignia of Office: Flotilla, Division, District and National Offices |date=7 May 2013 |publisher=[[United States Coast Guard Auxiliary|United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Division]] |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref>

In the [[Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary]]—PCGA—each of the directors in command of the ten Coast Guard Auxiliary districts are commodores, as well as most of the Deputy National Directors (some may be rear admirals). Commodore is abbreviated to COMMO in the PCGA.

[[Vanderbilt University]]'s intercollegiate athletics teams are nicknamed the "[[Vanderbilt Commodores|Commodores]]", a reference to [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]]'s self-appointed title (he was the master of a large shipping fleet).

In the U.S. [[Sea Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)|Sea Scouting]] program (which is part of the [[Boy Scouts of America]]), all National, Regional, Area, and Council committee chairs are titled as commodore, while senior committee members are addressed as vice commodore. Ship committee chairs do not hold this recognition.

==See also==
* [[Commodore-in-Chief]]
* [[Comparative military ranks]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Military ranks by country}}
{{Star officer ranks}}
{{Highest Military Ranks}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Naval ranks]]
[[Category:One-star officers]]