Officers within the Galactic Republic's military during the Clone Wars were officers in the Republic Navy. These individuals took charge of warships and aided Jedi Order members who had become leaders in the Grand Army of the Republic. Some, like Wilhuff Tarkin, Orson Krennic, and Wullf Yularen, continued their service in the Galactic Empire after the Republic fell.
During the era of the Clone Wars, the Republic Navy, which was the naval arm of the Galactic Republic's newly formed armed forces, had a dedicated officer corps of seasoned officers. These officers also played roles within the Grand Army of the Republic and on the ground. Following an agreement between Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine and the Jedi Order during the war, Republic officers were partnered with Jedi Generals of the Grand Army of the Republic. Clone navigation officers assisted them in managing the crews of Republic vessels like Star Destroyers. Clones themselves could also become Republic officers, either as standard clone trooper officers, also known as Clone Officers, or as clone navigation officers. Non-clone officers wore olive-drab attire, while clones were issued blue uniforms.
The Jedi's war strategies sometimes clashed with the officers' strict military rules. Admirals like Barton Coburn, Shoan Kilian, and Wullf Yularen were among the officers who strongly valued military discipline and obedience. Yularen, for example, disapproved of General Anakin Skywalker's tendency to bend or ignore orders. However, he also respected Skywalker's courage and skill in battle. The officers of the Republic Navy possessed excellent strategic and tactical abilities, capable of both organizing a star system's defensive fleet and outmaneuvering a dangerous warship.
The Clone Wars, a civil war that spanned the galaxy between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, led to the creation of the Republic Military officer role. Republic officers, who had experience dealing with pirates before the war, were adept at navigating difficult situations that would overwhelm less experienced navigators and those unfamiliar with hyperspace routes. Throughout the conflict, commissioned officers who were not clones served alongside Jedi, commanding clone troopers and warships like the Venator-class Star Destroyer against the Confederacy's military forces. However, following the Clone Wars and the subsequent rise of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial officer replaced the Republic officer. Imperial officers were high-ranking officials who held various positions of authority within the Imperial Military.
Several former Republic officers went on to new positions within Emperor Palpatine's [New Order](/article/new_order]. Wilhuff Tarkin, a former captain who was promoted to admiral near the end of the Clone Wars, was granted the political title of Grand Moff by the Emperor. After resigning as admiral, Yularen became a colonel in the Imperial Security Bureau. Orson Callan Krennic later became the Director of the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research, which succeeded the Republic Special Weapons Group.