<P> In the United States Navy , the United States Coast Guard , the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps , commander ( abbreviated `` CDR '' ) is a mid-grade officer rank , with the pay grade of O - 5 . Commander ranks above lieutenant commander ( O - 4 ) and below captain ( O - 6 ) . Commander is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the other uniformed services . Notably , it is the first rank at which the holder wears an embellished cap , whereas officers of the other services are entitled to embellishment at O - 4 rank . Promotion to commander in the US Navy is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act ( DOPMA ) of 1980 or its companion Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act ( ROPMA ) . DOPMA / ROPMA guidelines suggest that 70 % of lieutenant commanders should be promoted to commander after serving a minimum of three years at their present rank and after attaining 15 - 17 years of cumulative commissioned service , although this percentage may vary and be appreciably less for certain officer designators ( i.e. , primary `` specialties '' ) dependent on defense budgets , force structure and needs of the service . </P>
<P> In the United States Navy , the United States Coast Guard , the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps , commander ( abbreviated `` CDR '' ) is a mid-grade officer rank , with the pay grade of O - 5 . Commander ranks above lieutenant commander ( O - 4 ) and below captain ( O - 6 ) . Commander is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the other uniformed services . Notably , it is the first rank at which the holder wears an embellished cap , whereas officers of the other services are entitled to embellishment at O - 4 rank . Promotion to commander in the US Navy is governed by Department of Defense policies derived from the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act ( DOPMA ) of 1980 or its companion Reserve Officer Personnel Management Act ( ROPMA ) . DOPMA / ROPMA guidelines suggest that 70 % of lieutenant commanders should be promoted to commander after serving a minimum of three years at their present rank and after attaining 15 - 17 years of cumulative commissioned service , although this percentage may vary and be appreciably less for certain officer designators ( i.e. , primary `` specialties '' ) dependent on defense budgets , force structure and needs of the service . </P>
what does cdr stand for in the navy
what does cdr stand for in the navy
commander
commander