A brigade major can also be referred to as a staff officer or an adjutant. This individual assists the commanding officer of a brigade with administrative and logistical tasks such as communications, operations planning, and coordination with other units. Another synonym for brigade major is aide-de-camp, which is a French term that literally means "camp assistant." The aide-de-camp serves as a personal assistant to the commanding officer and may accompany them on missions and tours of duty. Other terms that may be used interchangeably with brigade major include chief of staff, executive officer, and operations officer, all of which refer to positions of leadership and responsibility within a military organization.