The Commander of the Brazilian Air Force (Brazilian Portuguese: Comandante da Aeronáutica, lit. 'Aeronautics Commander') is the head of the Brazilian Air Force and the leader of its Aeronautics Command (Comando da Aeronáutica or COMAer). The Commander holds the rank of Tenente-Brigadeiro-do-Ar (lit. Air Lieutenant Brigadier, a 4 star rank), is appointed by the president and reports directly to the Brazilian Minister of Defence. Prior to mid-1999 the Air Force was run by a military Ministry of Aeronautics.[1]