<P> The modern - day seniority system of the United States commissioned officer corps operates on two different levels . For officers of different ranks , seniority is simply determined by who holds the highest rank . For instance , Army colonel is senior to captain and captain senior to lieutenant . Seniority extends across services as for instance major in the Army is senior to captain in the Air Force while commander in the United States Navy is senior to both . For officers in the same rank or paygrade , seniority is determined by the date of whom assumed their rank earlier . If officers of the same grade have the same date of rank , then seniority is determined in order by the officer 's previous rank 's date and so forth . If all promotion dates of ranks are the same , seniority is then determined on order of : previous active duty grade relative seniority ( if applicable ) , total active commissioned service , and finally , total federal commissioned service or date of appointment as a commissioned officer . The secretaries of each service may establish further seniority rules if applicable . </P>
<P> The modern - day seniority system of the United States commissioned officer corps operates on two different levels . For officers of different ranks , seniority is simply determined by who holds the highest rank . For instance , Army colonel is senior to captain and captain senior to lieutenant . Seniority extends across services as for instance major in the Army is senior to captain in the Air Force while commander in the United States Navy is senior to both . For officers in the same rank or paygrade , seniority is determined by the date of whom assumed their rank earlier . If officers of the same grade have the same date of rank , then seniority is determined in order by the officer 's previous rank 's date and so forth . If all promotion dates of ranks are the same , seniority is then determined on order of : previous active duty grade relative seniority ( if applicable ) , total active commissioned service , and finally , total federal commissioned service or date of appointment as a commissioned officer . The secretaries of each service may establish further seniority rules if applicable . </P>
who is the highest ranking officer in the us army
who is the highest ranking officer in the us army
colonel
colonel