Navy CommanderO-5 CDR (Previous)
Commander

Navy Captain

O-6 Senior Officer, U.S. Navy
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Rear Admiral Lower Half

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How to get promoted to Captain History of the Navy Captain Rank

A Captain is a Senior Officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade O-6.

For roughly 400 years, the term "Master and Commander" was the title for the equivalent rank known today as "Commander". Alternate British Naval titles included "Sub-Captain", "Under-Captain", "Rector", and "Master Commanding". The American Continental Navy adopted the simplifying title of "Commander" in the mid-1800s.

Want to learn more? Read about the Navy's Captain rank on Military-Ranks.org.


History of the Navy

The Navy traces its heritage back to the Revolutionary War, when Congress funded the construction of several warships to repel the British Empire. Nowadays, much of the Navy's mission is to defend international "freedom of the seas." The Navy considers itself to be more technology-centric than the Army, but more traditional than the Air Force. Surface ships patrol the seas, conducting diplomatic relations with all nations of the world, while also enforcing the law against pirates and drug smugglers. Aircraft Carriers are the most powerful individual assets in America's arsenal, with a single unit being able move and be a major player in an armed conflict. Submarines conduct clandestine intelligence-gathering operations. SEALs are internationally reknown for counter-terrorism and irregular warfare in every possible environment. All Sailors are both warfighters and technical specialists.