Major (French pronunciation: [maʒɔʁ]) in France, is a senior superior military rank (French: grade militaire) across various military and security institutions with history dating back well beyond the 18th century. Typically, the contemporary rank of Major is situated differently in the military hierarchy of each country and corresponds in general to the rank of Major, whose French official equivalent is Commandant in the French Army and French Air Force, Chef d'Escadron in the National Gendarmerie and Capitaine de corvette in the French Navy.