Ranks are awarded for valor, loyalty and performance by the immediate CO after ratification with his superiors. It is within a COs power to confer a brevet of rank if such is felt appropriate. Rank determines pay scale and chain of command. If two officers hold the same rank, the officer who has held the rank the longest, the ‘senior ranking officer’ shall be in command.

Warrant Officers hold their position by ‘warrant’, and are considered to outrank all Enlisted Officers. WOs are generally found heading sub-departments such as Transporter Mechanisms or Shuttle Maintenance.

By SF tradition, the Marine CO (MCO) defers to the Naval CO when aboard ship, and is generally outranked by him (although this is sometimes reversed for large contingents in some operations).

Note: Marine Corps is listed for completeness. There are no Marines on board the USS Excelsior.