Ensign

The rank of ensign was an officer rank in a Navy.

Imperial Navy
In the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire, the rank of ensign was the first rank a recent graduate of an Imperial Naval Academy was assigned to. An ensign held authority over enlisted crew, but could not take charge of a situation, unless in the absence of a lieutenant or other higher ranking officer. They were tested in many situations and judged on their character, command and tact, and then promoted on to lieutenant when the captain of the vessel felt it was appropiate.

An ensign in the Imperial Starfighter Corps, a division of the Imperial Navy, was a rank given to graduates of a Naval Academy whom specialized in Imperial starfighters. Ensigns were allowed to fly starfighters, but were not given any authority in the squadron and usually given the "dirty" work the higher ranking officers do not wish to handle. Ensigns do have authority over the enlisted men of the Starfighter Corps, but generally do not give orders unless under the directive of a lieutenant or higher ranking individual.

The rank of ensign in the Imperial Navy was represented by: