What's What - Imperial Rank Insignia

A spinoff guide page that will explain the rank insignia of the Empire.

This guide is to help identify ranks better, even though ranks can be inconsistent at times.

These designs were sector-specific, which created a jumble of non-uniform markings (source: Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide).

The page will feature both styles of rank plaques first seen in Episode 4 (usually one row of squares) and the others first seen in Episode 5 (two rows of squares).

In some cases, in Episode VI Return of the Jedi, officers displayed no rank when wearing black uniforms.

sources: Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi

Officers with this rank are usually addressed as Admiral.

source:  Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

*conflicting representations of rank insignia throughout media.

*Moff Jerjerrod, in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, is shown with his military rank (Commander), rather than his political rank.

Officers can also be addressed as governor.

sources: Tarkin Revealed - Star Wars Insider 153, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars Uprising 

Not explained in the Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide, other than stating a research division plaque, this was most likely an Operations Major rank (four yellow with one red square as shown below in the Extra section of this page, but not a Operations Colonel, which was five yellow with one red square).