1.1 Naval Flag Officers

Flag Officers are the highest ranking members of Starfleet. They are the beings who decide the course that Starfleet will take, both literally and metaphorically, as they set policy, give individual starship captains their orders, and are responsible for the execution of Federation policy in and around Federation Space, as well as exploration in and around that space. Flag officers typically have decades of service in the fleet. Many, but not all, have held starship commands, before being appointed to flag rank. Officers who have held starship commands wear the color of Command, regardless of their branch of the fleet; officers who have not wear the department color most relevant to their branch.

Fleet Admiral
There is one Fleet Admiral in Starfleet: the Starfleet Commander-in-Chief. This officer is the overal commander of all fleet assets and branches, and reports only to the President of the United Federation of Planets and the Federation Council.

Admiral
Admirals command Starfleet's numbered fleets, and head several of the branches of Starfleet, including Starfleet Science, Starfleet Engineering, and Starfleet Intelligence.

Vice Admiral
Vice Admirals command some of Starfleet's branches, divisions, and task forces, as well as important starbases and shipyards across the Federation.

Rear Admiral
Rear Admirals command most of Starfleet's task forces, as well starbases, shipyards, and ground facilities across the Federation. In addition, many rear admirals serve as staff officers in Starfleet's branches and fleets.

Commodore
Commodore is the lowest and most common flag rank; commodores command task groups, some task forces, serve as staff officers in Starfleet's branches and fleets, head special projects, and command starbases. At this rank, some officers may retain personal command of a starship, but this is generally restricted to those officers commanding active fleet units.