Imperial High Command, also known as Imperial Command, High Command, or simply as IHC, was a central command division in the Galactic Empire. It was formally overseen by a Supreme Commander who also reported directly to the Emperor, formulated the objectives for the Imperial Military, and was briefed daily by the Joint Chiefs, despite that Imperial Command was structured beneath them. It consists of members of the Admiralty, General Staff, Imperial Security Bureau, Stormtrooper Command and Battle Station Command.
Beneath the IHC, the specific branch leadership takes over, and organization becomes more decentralized. At this level, most decisions are made by the specific leadership of each of the three main branches: the Admiralty, for the Imperial Navy, the General Staff for the Imperial Army, and Stormtrooper Command for the Stormtrooper Corps. From there, command decends from Imperial officers leading military units of decreasing size, until responsibility for fighting fall on the enlisted soldiers and naval troopers.
Following the Battle of Yavin, Grand General Cassio Tagge was temporarily elevated to Supreme Commander by Emperor Palpatine due to his foresight regarding the weakness of the first Death Star.
The Emperor's right-hand, Darth Vader, who served as the informal Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Military, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, Director Orson Callan Krennic of the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research, and Grand Admiral Thrawn of the 7th Fleet were also members of Imperial Command. It had at least one sub-unit, which developed new strategies and tactics as part of the Empire's five-year plans for the Outer Rim Territories.
The Imperial High Command was a command group of the Galactic Empire. After the proclamation of the Empire, the division created several specialized corps of soldiers. During his time at the Academy for Young Imperials, while pretending to be a model cadet, Zare Leonis secretly provided information about Imperial Command to the Spectres. According to Minister Maketh Tua of Lothal, Imperial Command was not able to take action against Rebel-sympathizers who had powerful friends in the Imperial Senate.
In 2 BBY, Imperial High Command dispatched Grand Admiral Thrawn to the Imperial Armory Complex on Lothal to investigate a high rate of faulty vehicles, with ISB Agent Kallus having been notified of the imminent arrival. The Chiss naval commander determined that a rebel cell had been sabotaging the vehicles and executed the laborer and resistance agent Morad Sumar during a demonstration on a 614-AvA speeder bike to set an example to the rest of the workers In 1 BBY, death trooper commander DT-F16 demanded that Director Orson Krennic and the rest of Imperial Command be alerted of the insurgent attack upon their kyber-ferrying freighter while requesting reinforcements. In 0 BBY, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin was in charge of Battle Station Command, holding full control of the Death Star. In the aftermath of the battle station's destruction, Grand General Cassio Tagge was given supreme command by Emperor Palpatine; General Tagge was eventually demoted and executed for one of his oversights. Following the presumed destruction of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Harbinger by the Rebel Alliance, Lord Vader personally contacted the Star Destroyer's admiral.
Imperial High Command was first mentioned in the reference book Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide. While its place within the greater command structure of the Galactic Empire has not been fully established in canon, it was said in Star Wars (2015) 22 that Darth Vader was a member of Imperial Command. The group was also briefly mentioned by the Imperial officer Plumestriker in the non-canon 2016 Disney XD television series LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures episode "Showdown on Hoth."
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Showdown on Hoth"
- Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 1
- Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- Dawn of Rebellion
- LEGO Star Wars: Choose Your Side: Doodle Activity Book