commander

Noun

1. One who exercises control and direction of a military or naval organization.
   • I think if post commanders of the unchaplained posts could employ acceptable clergymen […] then the needs might be met. - 1883, United States. War Department, Annual Reports of the War Department, volume 1, page 128:
   • Instead, Korda squeezes Eisenhower’s extraordinary two-term presidency — not to mention his stints as president of Columbia University and commander of NATO forces — into 140 themeless pages. - 2007 September 30,...
2. A naval officer whose rank is above that of a lieutenant commander and below that of captain.
   • Shepard: I don't take orders from you anymore, remember? Anderson: Consider yourself reinstated... Commander. - 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Earth:
3. One who exercises control and direction over a group of persons.
4. A designation or rank in certain non-military organizations such as NASA and various police forces.
5. The chief officer of a commandry.
6. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc.
7. A rank within an honorary order: e.g. Commander of the Legion of Honour.
8. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Asian genus Moduza.
9. A soldier who has attained the rank of sergeant or higher