Lieutenant general and Israel Defense Forces, the Chief of Staff holds this rank. <br> Lieutenant general Lieutenant general, lieutenant-general and similar (abbrev Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a captain general. In modern armies, lieutenant general normally ranks immediately below general and above major general; it is equivalent to the navy rank of vice admiral, and in air forces with a
Brigadier general full colonel who assumes a post requiring the rank, notably in an international context (e.g. as Military Attaché in a major embassy). "General de brigada" (Brigade general) is the lowest rank amongst general officers of the Brazilian Army – i.e. like in most British Commonwealth counties, the lowest general officer rank is a two-star rank, and a "General de Brigada" wears a two-star insignia. Hence, it is equivalent to the major general rank of many counties. In the Brazilian Air Force, all of the senior ranks include "Brigadeiro" – the two-star rank is "Brigadeiro" (Brigadier), the three-star rank is "Major-Brigadeiro"