" 'Chain of Command' is a term you will see time and time again at all levels of STARFLEET. What is it? The Chain of Command is an escalation procedure set in place to ensure the quickest response to questions and grievances raised by STARFLEET members."
The STARFLEET Chain of Command is as follows:The Shipboard Chain of Command works the same way. It starts at the top, with the Commanding Officer, and works it's way down from there.
The Shipboard Chain of Command is as follows:For our purposes, only the Shipboard Chain of Command will be described here:
- The ship's CO will receive orders from and submit information to the Regional Coordinator (RC). Ship's mission reports (MSRs) will be sent to STARFLEET, via the RC. Orders from STARFLEET, via the RC, will be read by the CO and acted upon accordingly. If the orders concern the whole crew, the CO can make a shipwide announcement. If the orders concern the current mission or are to change the current mission, the CO passes the orders to the XO to be relegated as needed, where needed.
- The XO is the CO's "most trusted confidant[e]". The XO deals directly with the crew through the lower CoC. Any crew issues go through the XO first, for resolution, before moving up to the CO. The XO will relay orders/information to the crew from the CO, via the Department Heads. The XO will take command of the ship should the CO become unable to fulfill the command position.
- The Second Officer is not a standalone position, instead it is a designated Senior Staff member whose position is third in command. Typically, the Chief Engineer is designated as the Second Officer, but the position will always fall to the highest ranking Senior Staff member. The Second officer will take command of the ship, should the CO and XO both become unable to fulfill the command position.
- The Department Heads are the "COs" of each working section of the ship such as Engineering and Communications. The Dept. Heads will report to the XO and will delegate to their staff. Additionally, the highest ranking department head will take command of the ship should the CO and XO both become unable to fulfill the command position.
- The Assistant Department head will take some of the load off the Dept. Head and will step in should the Dept. Head go on leave or otherwise become incable of running his/her department.
- Division heads are non-commissioned officers, usually Chief Petty Officers, that control their respective division and report to the Dept. Heads. A division can be described as a group of crew members that maintain/operate ships equipment, such as the warp nacelles. Most starships have 2 nacelles. Each nacelle would be assigned a division of crew members to maintain/operate the equipment.
- A Section Leader is a petty officer, usually First Class, that is in charge of a section of crew members. Since no one wants to work 24 hours a day, a division is split into 3 sections, usually, and each section would work an 8 hour shift. The Section Leader reports to the Division head.
