Commanding officer

Commanding Officer, or CO, is the highest position that can be occupied by a Starfleet officer onboard a starship or a on a starbase. Officers with the rank of Captain or Commander usually occupy the position of Commanding Officer. But officers with the rank of Rear Admiral (lower grade) are given the position for very large single command assignments, or officers with the rank of Lieutenant Commander are accorded the same for minor command assignmentss. The CO is responsible for seeing that all missions assigned to his ship or station are carried out. He/she is the chief representative of Starfleet Command to all visiting dignitaries and while on first-contact missions. At social functions aboard, the CO acts as the ship's or station's host, and he presides at all ceremonies. Administratively, the CO is the final approval authority for all policy decisions aboard ship and has final approval for all promotions and transfers of crew personnel. The CO also must approve all official communiqué's sent from the ship. The Commanding Officer fights the ship or station in battle and sometimes delegates weapons release authority and maneuvering to the Tactical and Conn Officers. It is assumed that the CO is proficient at all jobs under his command and should be able to take over for almost anyone aboard ship (with exception of the ship's doctor and certain technology specialists). Most importantly, a CO is the leader of the crew and is an ideological figurehead and role model for junior officers aboard. The CO is the ultimate authority regarding the interpretation of orders, Starfleet regulations and directives, especially the applicability of the Prime Directive.