NRD: Navy Recruiting District Headquarters. They are responsible for all recruiting (officer, enlisted and NROTC) in a specific geographical area. There are about 30 nationwide. CO and XO are O-5s. NROTC is usually coordinated (it really isn't a recruiting function) by senior enlisted, Chief Petty Officers and higher. They track the NRDs applications, facilitate the process for applicants and answer questions about the NROTC program. Since they are enlisted, they usually don't know a great deal of NROTC in general, but definitely know the application process and are good resources. These guys will usually do the interview. So one could surmise that an interview done by a senior officer might be of some advantage over an interview conducted by the NROTC coordinator, who is a Chief. I don't have any proof of that. An interview from the Commanding Officer though does seem to elevate the selection rate quite a bit at my local NRD. I have to say that an interview conducted by anyone, senior or not, that is not familiar with the process or what the Board is looking for will not be helpful, and in the extreme detrimental. I have many years experience with recruiting and in my retirement conduct many interviews for Navy Academy applicants. I don't think the NRD would be as eager to have some retired O-6 who knows nothing about the process interview one of their applicants, not know the key questions to ask, and score him inappropriately low. Exactly what circumstance are you contemplating?