staff officer

American  

noun

Military.

1. a commissioned officer who is a member of a staff.

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staff officer British  

noun

1. a commissioned officer serving on the staff of a commander, service, or central headquarters

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Etymology

Origin of staff officer

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

“I am beginning to think that what we need is a type of staff officer with at least three heads—one political, one economic, and one military.”

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2026

But staff officer Andrii does not believe Europe can provide much in the way of security guarantees.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

Daniel Cressy, a public services staff officer for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, estimated that more than 4,000 people visited Zephyr Shoals at the peak of the celebrations.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2023

I’m the highest paid staff officer in the government.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 21, 2022

Now it was much darker and the moon was high, and then ahead there was an officer, a staff officer, sitting on a black horse.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara