Originally Posted by
pr00ne
Commander (Air) responsible for aviation assets on the carrier, CAG responsible for aviation assets of the entire carrier Strike Group plus visitors.
The CAG (officially Carrier Air Wing Commander) is a Captain (O-6), the current generation of NAS COs are Commanders (in the case of 617 could be a Wg Cdr or Cdr) not as in the past usually Lt Cdrs, then Cdr Hugh Drake RN of 892 was an exception. One reason I heard was that it was also necessary to outrank the COs of embarked USMC F-35B squadrons such as VMA-211 who are Lt Cols (O-5). The CAG on CSG21 Capt James Blackmore RN was prior to appointment and simultaneous promotion Wings on QNLZ as a Cdr. Pr00ne is correct in saying CAG is in charge all the air assets in the CSG.