commander; commanding officer; CO
Refers to a person in charge of a military unit, operation, or organization. Formal and neutral.
The commander ordered the unit to retreat.
He was appointed as the new commanding officer.
指揮官 is a broader term for any officer who directs or leads, while 司令官 specifically implies the officer in overall command of a unit or operation.
指揮官 is a broader term for any commanding officer, whereas 隊長 specifically means the leader of a particular 隊 (unit, corps, or team).
指揮官 is the modern, neutral term for a military commanding officer, while 将 carries a more classical or literary flavor.
supreme commander; commander-in-chief
Compound of 指揮 (command, direction) and 官 (official, officer).