the second-in-command of any of certain military units
Abbreviation: (US) XO
2.
a specialist seaman officer, responsible under the captain for the routine efficient running of the ship in the US, British (formerly), and certain other navies
executive officer in American English
Military
an officer who is chief assistant to the commanding officer
Examples of 'executive officer' in a sentence
executive officer
He did not want to become the chief executive officer of a big business.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)