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Master chief petty officer (MCPO) is an enlisted naval rate, a type of military rank used by the service organizations of different cultures. As a traditional naval grade, MCPO is the most senior grade of chief petty officer, and is almost the highest non-commissioned officer grade in organizations like Starfleet and the US Navy. In comparison to infantry ranking systems, this rate is approximately equivalent to the most senior sergeant grade, such as Sergeant-Major. Personnel of this grade can be addressed simply as chief (or more properly, "master chief"), and sometimes by their job title, such as "master chief specialist."

While nominally subordinate to all commissioned officers, master chiefs wield far more influence and authority than most junior officers and act as mentors and advisors to senior officers. Master chiefs have decades of practical experience and are an indispensable source of technical skill and leadership on Starfleet vessels.

When there are individual grades of chief petty officers, senior chief petty officer (SCPO) is subordinate to MCPO.

In 2286, when a probe projecting humpback whale signals threatened to destroy Earth, MCPO Janice Rand was one of the personnel in Admiral Cartwright's command area. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

In addition, there exist three other grades of master chief in Starfleet: Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMCPO), Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer (FMCPO) and Master Chief Petty Officer of Starfleet (MCPOSF). The first is the senior enlisted man in a Starfleet command structure, the second is the highest enlisted man in a fleet and the last is the senior enlisted man in all of Starfleet.

Starfleet insignia[]

22nd century 2230s
MCPO (ENT)
Yellow (ENT)
Blue (2230s)
2250s 2265-2270s Early 2270s Late 2270s-2350s
CPO (2250s)
Yellow (2250s)
Yellow (TOS)
MCPO Shoulder (TMP)
White Shoulder (TMP)
MCPO Sleeve (TWOK)
White Enlisted Sleeve (TWOK)
2350s-2360s 2360s-2370s
service uniform
[1]
2360s-2370s
duty uniform
[1]
2370s-2380s
Chief (Early TNG)
Red (Early TNG)
Chief (TNG)
Red (TNG)
Chief (DS9-VOY)
Red (VOY)
MCPO (DS9-VOY)
Red (DS9)
MCPO (TNG)
Red (TNG)
MCPO (DS9-VOY)
Red (VOY)
Early 2380s Mid 2380s 2390s

Alternate realities[]

2250s 2380s-2400s 2390s 29th century
Yellow (STXI)
MCPO (alternate 2380s)
Red (alternate 2380s)
MCPO (alternate 2390s)
Red (alternate 2390s)
MCPO (2800s)
Blue (2800s)

Non-Starfleet insignia[]

Klingon Navy Lyran Starfleet
Klingon Navy - MCPO Lyran SE E-7
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
Kellarian System
Defense Force

(Navy & Ground forces)
(Star Trek: Remington)
CR
CN
PO2
PO1
CPO SCPO MCPO ENS SLT LT SCDR CDR CAPT CDRE VADM ADM FADM
PVT
PFC
CPL
SGT
SSG MSG SGM 3LT 2LT 1LT MAJ LTCOL COL MGEN LGEN GEN CGEN
Lyran ranks CR
CN
PO2
PO1
CPO SCPO MCPO CDT ENS LTJG LT LCDR CDR CAPT
FCAPT
CDRE SCDRE VADM COUNT DUKE
KING
So'ja High Command REC
CN
PVT
PO3
PO2
PO1
CPO MC CPL SGT LT MAJ LTCOL COL ADM MADM SADM

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Up until the introduction of specialized insignia in 2372, chief petty officers wore one hollow pip.

External link[]

Master chief petty officer article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.

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