Why Sisko should not command both ship and fleet

Captain Benjamin Sisko directs a fleet from Defiant while remaining a captain, apparently without promotion to commodore or a dedicated command staff. Running a warship in battle demands attention to the vessel, crew, and immediate tactical problem, while fleet command weighs multiple formations and the battle as a whole. Good ship captains need a personal ability to draw the best from individuals. Fleet commanders must sometimes accept risk to particular ships for the larger operational result. Alfred Thayer Mahan and Philip Vian are cited as officers whose aptitude or performance looked better at higher command than in an individual captaincy. Total war can require orders whose chance of success justifies a serious risk that ships and people will not return. Combining ship and fleet command overloads one officer with responsibilities that demand different judgments.