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Lieutenant commander is a military rank used in Federation Starfleet, superior to lieutenant and subordinate to commander. A lieutenant commander may be a senior officer in a department on a large vessel or starbase, or may be commanding officer or first officer of a smaller vessel.

A lieutenant commander is normally addressed as commander except in ceremonial contexts or printed orders.

The rank is equivalent to the Marines rank of major, subcommander in the Federation Starfighter Corps (Star Trek: Remington), the Cardassian rank of glinn (excepting the Star Trek: Sigils and Unions continuity, where glinn is often equated with the rank of commander), and the Romulan rank of centurion.

History

The term comes from the navies of the 20th century. The USN abbreviation was LCDR.

Unlike other ranks such as lieutenant colonel or lieutenant general, a lieutenant commander is not a lesser version of commander, but rather is a more senior grade of lieutenant (other navies, such as those used in Germany and Russia, use the term 'captain lieutenant'). The rank was originally created because some lieutenants were being given command of smaller vessels in the United States Navy (where these officers were called 'lieutenant commanding' or 'lieutenant commandant') and the British Royal Navy (there referred to as 'lieutenant in command' or 'lieutenant and commander'); the US Navy adopted the resulting new rank of lieutenant commander in 1862, and the Royal Navy followed suit in 1914.

Starfleet insignia

22nd century 2230s
LCDR (ENT)
Yellow (ENT)
LCDR (2230s)
Blue (2230s)
2250s 2265-2270s Early 2270s
(Shoulders/Sleeves)
Late 2270s-2350s
(Shoulders/Sleeves)
Officer (2250s)
Yellow (2250s)
LCDR (TOS)
Yellow (TOS)
LCDR Shoulder (TMP)
White Shoulder (TMP)
LCDR Shoulder (TWOK)
White Shoulder (TWOK)
LCDR Sleeve (TMP)
Blue Sleeve (TMP)
LCDR Sleeve (TWOK)
White Officer Sleeve (TWOK)
2350s-2360s 2360s-2370s
service uniform
2360s-2370s
duty uniform
2373-
LCDR (Early TNG)
Red (Early TNG)
LCDR (TNG)
Red (TNG)
LCDR (DS9-VOY)
Red (VOY)
LCDR (DS9-VOY)
Red (DS9)

Alternate realities

2250s 2380s-2400s 2390s 29th century
LCDR (STXI)
Yellow (STXI)
LCDR (2800s)
Blue (2800s)

Other insignia

Klingon navy Lyran Starfleet
Klingon Navy - LCDR Lyran SE O-5

Starfleet lieutenant commanders


Enlisted ranks Etc Officer ranks Flag ranks
Starfleet
Officers
Enlisted
Misc.
CR
CA
CN
PO3
PO2
PO1
CPO SCPO MCPO
CMCPO
FMCPO
MCPOSF
WO
CDT
MID
REC
ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT
FCAPT
CDRE
RDML
RADM
VADM ADM FADM
Klingon Defense Force
(Ground forces & navy)
Bekk Cpl Sgt MSgt SgtMaj 2nd Lt 1st Lt Capt
(HoH)
Maj LtCol Col Brig
('ech)
LtGen Gen
(Sa')
PO2 PO1 CPO MCPO ENS LTJG LT
(Sogh)
LCDR CDR
(la')
CAPT
(HoD)
CDRE
(totlh)
VADM ADM


Kai Imperium TRN
MNX
IMUN
LGN3
LGN2
LGN1
CLGN CEN SCEN PVT PRN OP TRB
VIC
PR PTR MST LEG IMP
Lyran ranks CR
CN
PO2
PO1
CPO SCPO MCPO CDT ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT
FCAPT
CDRE SCDRE VADM COUNT DUKE
KING

External links

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