▁from ▁ag ency ▁to ▁ag ency . ▁There ▁is ▁no ▁nation ally ▁set ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁rank ▁structure , ▁but ▁they ▁tend ▁to ▁follow ▁similar ▁patterns . ▁ ▁Federal ▁The ▁U . S . ▁Department ▁of ▁Justice ▁and ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Department ▁of ▁Hom eland ▁Security ▁( D HS ) ▁contain ▁multiple ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁ag encies ▁and ▁are ▁the ▁largest ▁federal ▁depart ments ▁responsible ▁for ▁law ▁enfor cement ; ▁however , ▁other ▁government al ▁depart ments ▁and ▁ag encies ▁have ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁bodies . ▁Each ▁federal ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁ag ency ▁has ▁a ▁unique ▁rank ▁structure . ▁Many ▁federal ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁ag encies ▁rank ▁structures ▁res emble ▁Military ▁rank ▁structure ▁but ▁have ▁different ▁c og itations ▁regarding ▁respons ib ilities ▁and ▁duties . ▁In ▁general , ▁all ▁law ▁enfor cement ▁groups ▁in ▁United ▁States ▁follow ▁a ▁similar ▁pattern ▁shown ▁below : ▁▁ ▁Director ▁or ▁Chief ▁ ▁Ass istant / ▁Deput y ▁Director / ▁Chief ▁▁ ▁Special ▁Agent ▁in ▁Char ge ▁ ▁Ass istant ▁Special ▁Agent ▁in ▁Char ge ▁▁ ▁Super vis ory ▁Special ▁Agent ▁▁ ▁Special ▁Agent ▁ ▁State ▁ ▁Colonel ▁( some ▁states ▁use ▁the ▁titles ▁of ▁Super int endent , ▁Director ▁or ▁Commission er , ▁or ▁may ▁have ▁those ▁as ▁ranks ▁higher ▁than ▁Colonel ▁- ▁often ▁selected ▁by ▁the ▁state ▁Governor ) ▁▁ ▁Lieutenant ▁Colonel ▁▁ ▁Major ▁ ▁Captain ▁ ▁Lieutenant ▁Staff ▁Serge ant , ▁Serge ant ▁First ▁Class , ▁First ▁Serge ant , ▁Master ▁Serge ant , ▁or ▁Serge ant ▁Major ▁( some ▁States )