How a squadron commander obtained a flag captain

If a squadron commander decided that he needed a flag captain, how could he get one?

He had to make the case through the chain of command; depending on rank, he might receive extra executive help rather than a full flag captain, while a commodore had a better claim.

A commander first needed to make the case through his superior and show that the appointment was supported by precedent and available resources. Whether the superior already had such an arrangement would influence the request's prospects. A captain might receive an additional commander or lieutenant commander to absorb ship-management work rather than a separate flag captain. A commodore had a stronger institutional case for the formal appointment.