Commodore

Commodore is a term used in naval contexts and also the name of a former computer company. As a naval rank, commodore denotes a senior officer who commands a squadron or flotilla, typically ranking above a captain and below a rear admiral. In many navies it is a one-star rank (equivalent to NATO code OF-6) or an appointment rather than a permanent grade; its exact status varies by country. The word originates from the practice of designating a captain in command of multiple ships as a commodore, from a term meaning “commander of a fleet.” Over time some navies established commodore as an official rank, while others used it primarily as an honorific title for captains in charge of groups of ships.

In modern usage, commodore remains an active rank in several navies, including those of the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Australia, among others, while in some cases it is older or less common. In the United States Navy, commodore has historically been used as a title for captains commanding a squadron and is not a permanent rank today; some ceremonial or brevet uses have persisted.

Commodore International, originally Commodore Business Machines, was a leading computer company best known for the Commodore 64, a highly successful home computer in the 1980s. The company produced a range of personal computers and later underwent acquisitions and restructurings in the 1990s, after which the Commodore brand ceased as a standalone entity.