What term is used to describe individuals responsible for coordinating and commanding functional units?

The term that accurately describes individuals responsible for coordinating and commanding functional units is "Branch Director." In the context of incident management, the Branch Director plays a pivotal role within the Incident Command System (ICS). They are responsible for overseeing an extended organizational structure, which includes multiple functional units. This position enables effective coordination of resources and operations during an incident, ensuring that all efforts across various branches work together efficiently to manage the situation.

The role of a Branch Director becomes particularly important in larger incidents where incidents can be complex, requiring a more strategic approach than what a single supervisor or manager might provide. By designating branches, the Incident Commander or Operations Section Chief can delegate responsibilities more effectively, creating a clear chain of command and organization that allows for a focused response to the incident at hand.