The Commander of the Brazilian Air Force (Brazilian Portuguese: Comandante da Aeronáutica) 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 Minister of Aeronautics.