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Rear Admiral

a Colonial flag officer rank

Rear Admiral was a flag officer rank of the Colonial Fleet. Rear Admirals served beneath Vice Admirals and held command over one of the nine major divisions into which the Fleet was organized.

By Tom G

Rear Admiral was a flag officer rank used by the Colonial Fleet. It sat above the rank of commander and below the senior admirals, such as Admiral Nagala, who led the Fleet before the Cylon attack. (Battlestar Galactica (miniseries); Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus")

Role and divisions#

A Rear Admiral stood among the flag officers of the Colonial Fleet, above the commanders who led individual battlestars. When the battlestar Pegasus found the fleet after the Fall, its commanding officer, Helena Cain, outranked William Adama, and as a rear admiral she took command of both battlestars. In the extended cut of the episode, Adama notes that Fleet had promoted her over half the commanders on the list. (Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus")

Known Rear Admirals#

Among the officers known to have held the rank were Helena Cain, William Adama, promoted by President Roslin after Cain's death, and Louis Hoshi, who was given the rank and command of the civilian fleet when Galactica left for its final battle. (Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus"; Battlestar Galactica, "Resurrection Ship, Part 2"; Battlestar Galactica, "Daybreak, Part 2")

Frequently asked questions

What was the rank of Rear Admiral?
Rear Admiral was a flag officer rank in the Colonial Fleet, a rank above commander. Helena Cain held it when Pegasus found the fleet, and William Adama was promoted to it after the Cylon attack.
What did a Colonial Rear Admiral command?
In the fleet after the Fall, a rear admiral was the senior military officer in command of whatever Colonial forces survived. Cain commanded Pegasus and then the combined battle group, and Adama commanded the fleet after her death.
Who held the rank of Rear Admiral?
Known Rear Admirals of the Colonial Fleet included Helena Cain, William Adama and Louis Hoshi.

Sources

  • EpisodeBattlestar Galactica (miniseries), Miniseries (2003)
  • EpisodeBattlestar Galactica, "Pegasus", Season 2, Episode 10 (2005)
  • EpisodeBattlestar Galactica, "Resurrection Ship, Part 2", Season 2, Episode 12 (2006)
  • EpisodeBattlestar Galactica, "Daybreak, Part 2", Season 4, Episode 20 (2009)

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