Executive officer

The Executive Officer (or XO) is the second in command aboard a starship, reporting directly to the Commanding Officer.

Aboard the battlestar Galactica this position is held by Colonel Saul Tigh. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the ship, and takes command in William Adama's absence.

The XO of the battlestar Pegasus was formerly Colonel Jack Fisk. Fisk took command of the Pegasus after the murder of Admiral Helena Cain, and the current holder of the Pegasus XO position is unknown. According to his possibly-truthful anecdote in "Pegasus", Fisk's predecessor was a longtime associate of Cain, whom she publicly executed for insubordination.

Note

Executive Officer is a military term in this context, used in several branches of the armed forces worldwide (naval, marine, air force). Certain forces, such as the British Army use the term "2i/c" (signifying second in command) in preference to "XO."