A ranking officer (also known as a superior officer) is a relative leadership position within a chain of command that one person may hold over one person or a group of people within a situational context. Determinants for a ranking officer in Starfleet are similar to the chain of command, which include (in no particular order): rank, seniority, Starfleet division, direct orders from a flag officer or Starfleet Command, and Starfleet regulations.