A full colonel is a plausible commanding officer for a ship with battlecruiser responsibilities. Lieutenant colonels are a less convincing choice for routine pilot and navigator duties because those stations must be continuously relieved across several watches. Senior officers are more useful as the executive officer, chief engineer, aviation lead, or supervisors of multiple qualified teams. More junior officers and enlisted specialists can then stand the recurring bridge watches while their leaders coordinate the department as a whole. Matching rank to responsibility produces a command structure that can operate continuously rather than a single impressive-looking bridge shift.
Notable Point · 47:01-48:03
Rank structure should follow shipboard responsibility
Senior officers should command departments and watches rather than fill routine pilot and navigator stations on a large warship.