Admiral McCoy's
shoulder board

Branch Admiral is a fictional rank of Starfleet, in the universe of Star Trek. The rank was never spoken of in a live action production but has appeared in several unoffical publications regarding the first season of Star Trek:The Next Generation. Starfleet Command Ranks and insignia of Starfleet are fictional military badges and titles which are portrayed in the science fiction universe of Star Trek. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the defense, research, diplomacy and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets. ... The Enterprise boldly going where no man had gone before. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...

According to some sources, Branch Admiral is a rank between Vice Admiral and a full Admiral. It is bestowed upon senior flag officers of the Starfleet Staff Corps to include the Starfleet Surgeon General. Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... Admiral is a word from either the Arabic term amir-al-bahr, or the Irish term Ard muirfhear or Ardmurar , both meaning commander of the seas. ... Flag Officer is both a historic naval rank and a modern day navy title. ... Surgeon General can have several different meanings. ...

Many Star Trek fans speculate that, in the pilot Next Generation episode "Encounter at Farpoint", Leonard McCoy appears as a Starfleet Branch Admiral. In the episode, McCoy wears a grey sweater with triangular shoulder boards, possibly the only known on camera appearance of the insignia for Branch Admiral. Encounter at Farpoint was the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Dr. Leonard H. McCoy Leonard Horatio McCoy, M.D., nicknamed Bones, is a fictional character in the fictional Star Trek universe, played by the late DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 - June 11, 1999). ...

Later Star Trek productions gave no mention of the rank of Branch Admiral and the title was never deemed offical by the Star Trek producers.