Base commander

{{Short description|Officer commanding a military base}} {{globalize|date=April 2022}} The '''base commander''' is the officer assigned to command a [[military base]]. In the [[United States armed forces]], a base commander is generally at least an [[Officer (armed forces)|O-6]] grade officer, which means [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] ([[United States Army|Army]], [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]]) or [[Captain (United States)|captain]] ([[United States Navy|Navy]], [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]]).

However, in certain instances, typically with smaller installations, a base commander may be of a higher or lower rank depending on the size of the installation.

In the US Army, a base commander is called a post commander. A US Army installation sometimes establishes a [[base defense operations center]]s to provide a focus point for defense operations. The post commander for most active duty installations is an O-7 grade officer (brigadier general) or higher, depending in the echelon housed. For example, [[Wheeler Army Airfield]] on Oahu, Hawaii, houses the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and is commanded by an O-6 (colonel). [[Fort Leonard Wood]] houses a Center of Excellence and three branch commands (Chemical, Engineer and Military Police) and is commanded by an O-7 (brigadier general). [[Fort Cavazos]] houses three divisions and III Corps and is commanded by an O-9 (lieutenant general). However, since 2007, bases like Fort Cavazos have a 'garrison commander' who is a member of [[United States Army Installation Management Command|INCOM]] and handles the day-to-day and administrative duties of a base commander.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/08/mil-060804-army01.htm |title=U.S. Army Announces Installation Management Command Activation |website=Globalsecurity.org |date=4 August 2006 |access-date=21 May 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230526001734/https://home.army.mil/cavazos/about/fort-Cavazos-leadership army.mil]</ref>

In the US Air Force, a base commander may either be called an air base wing commander or a support group commander. If the former, the commander is an independent commander supporting other tenant units; if the latter, the commander is a junior O-6 answering to a more senior O-6 or a general officer serving as the wing commander.

In the US Navy, the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard, the commanding officer of a base, station, air station, support activity or other facility in an independent commander, typically supporting one or more tenant units.

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Military ranks]]