Galactic Empire Ranks 101

The Galactic Empire Military is made up of several different branches, each with its own unique military or civilian ranks.

Some of these ranks are awarded based on merit, while others are achieved through favoritism or political maneuvering.

This can include the assassination of your predecessor. 

Below is a detailed list of the ranks that each branch of the Imperial military uses.

Army Ranks

Let’s start by closely examining the ranking system the Army of the Galactic Empire uses. We’ll list them from highest rank to lowest. 

Navy Ranks

The Imperial Navy, who fought most of their battles in the sky, used a completely different rank structure than the Imperial Army. Below are the rankings they used from the highest officer to the lowest recruit. All ranks in the Imperial Navy were commissioned.

Starfighter Corps

The Starfighter Corps was technically a division of the Navy, but they used a slightly different hierarchy that is a mashup of the Navy and Army rankings. Below are the Imperial Starfighter Corps ranks in order. 

1. Colonel
2. Major
3. Second Lieutenant Commander
4. Senior Lieutenant
5. Lieutenant
6. Flight Officer

Political Ranks

In addition to the dedicated Military rankings, a handful of political-type rankings were given to those with military training and civilians. Those given these ranks, even the civilians, had power over elements of the Imperial Military. 

Other Ranks

There were many other military and pseudo-military institutions within the Galactic Empire that used a set ranking system. Below are some of these groups. 

Inquisitorius 

These Force-sensitives trained in the dark side of the Force were in charge of hunting down errant Jedi and kidnapping young Force-Sensitives. They could take direct control of any military forces and reported only to Vader and the Emperor. 

Their ranks included Grand Inquisitor, who was in charge of all 12 Inquisitors, and Brother/Sister, the title used among the male and female inquisitors, respectively. 

Inspectorate

This division was in charge of special investigations within the Galactic Empire. One unfortunate Inspector uncovered Vader’s plot to overthrow the Emperor and was subsequently killed by Vader. 

The ranking system the Inspectorate used is as follows:

• Captain-Inspector
• Lieutenant-Inspector
• Inspector

Imperial Intelligence

The Imperial Intelligence Services used a wide variety of rankings. As they were originally 5 different institutions that merged, members of Military Intelligence (MI) used navy rankings, army rankings, and even civilian rankings such as Director. 

The leadership of the MI was the mysterious Ubiqtorate whose identities and rankings are unknown. 

Imperial Security Bureau (ISB)

This was the law enforcement branch of the Galactic Empire, and they focused on matters of state security, i.e., treason.

Their rankings followed the Army style, except that the top two ranked individuals of the ISB were a Bureau Chief followed by the Deputy Director. 

Imperial Academy

The various Imperial Academies scattered across the Stars Wars universe primarily used the rankings for cadets and training officers that belonged to the branch they served. For example, an Army school would use Army rankings. 

The exception is the rank of the leader of each academy. These academy leaders were given the special rank of Commandant. 

Battle Station Operations

This division was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the First and Second Death Star. Those that served in the BSO used an independent ranking system as many members were technicians or engineers. 

The whole BSO fell under the command of whichever Admiral or Moff was in charge of the station.