The commanding officer (CO) is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law. In this respect, commanding officers have significant responsibilities (for example, the use of force, finances, equipment, the Geneva Conventions), duties (to higher authority, mission effectiveness, duty of care to personnel) and powers (for example, discipline and punishment of personnel within certain limits of military law).

In some countries, commanding officers may be of any commissioned rank; usually there are more officers than command positions available, and time spent in command is generally a key aspect of promotion, so the role of commanding officer is highly valued, and in theory only goes to the best officers. The commanding officer is often assisted by an executive officer (XO) or second-in-command (2i/c), who handles personnel and day-to-day matters and a senior enlisted advisor. Larger units may also have staff officers of various responsibilities.

Don Shipley is a prominent Canadian stage director. He has led many theatre companies in Canada and Europe since the mid-1970s.

Positions Shipley has held include:

Gary James Rowe (born 5 September 1952) is a former Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Cranbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 2002.

Rowe was born in Coburg, Victoria, to Douglas James and Norma Lilian Rowe. He attended Glen Waverley High School before studying at Victoria Police Academy, where he was one of the top ten graduates. In 1970 he became a police officer, but in 1974 became a consultant with National Mutual and in 1977 founded a finance and insurance company, of which he became director. He was also director of a number of other finance and insurance businesses. In 1989, he was elected to Cranbourne Shire Council, serving until 1992.

In 1992, Rowe was elected to the new seat of Cranbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Following the Kennett Government's defeat in 1999 he became Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition. He was defeated in 2002 by Labor candidate Jude Perera.