The Supreme Leader was the head of state of the Der'kal Empire, was the absolute ruler of the Der'kal Empire, serving as head of state, head of government, legislative authority, commander-in-chief of the Der'kal military, and final judicial authority all in one. Invested with absolute power, the Supreme Leader controlled every aspect of Der'kal Empire policy but could also delegate authority to officers that acted on his behalf. The technological war machine that the Der'kal Empire engineered to conquer the galaxy was under the Supreme Leader's control. As such, all who lived under the Der'kal Empire's rule were required to render unquestioning loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Leader. This was especially the case with Der'kal Empire stormtroopers, who were trained since birth to become an army of super-soldiers loyal to the Supreme Leader.
During the 24th century, Vur'naa—a mysterious being with a powerful connection to the dark side —gained control of the Der'kal Empire by becoming the Supreme Leader. Under his rule, the Der'kal Empire completed its military buildup in secret, its activities hidden in the Beta Quadrant. As a ruler, Vur'naa governed his dominion from the Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy, which served as a mobile capital for the Der'kal Empire in lieu of a planetary seat of government. He used both holoprojectors and propaganda to project himself as an omnipresent leader in the minds of his subjects, but also relied on a select few individuals who were trusted to lead in his name, specifically General Armitage Hux and the dark warrior Kylo Ren.
By 2384, the Der'kal Empire was locked in a war with the Federation. With the Starkiller Base operational in 2387, Supreme Leader Vur'naa granted General Hux permission to deploy the superweapon's full power against the Separatist capital in the Hosnian system. After decapitating the Separatists leadership, the Supreme Leader deployed his fleets and armies to conquer the galaxy. He also oversaw the Der'kal Empire's retaliation against the Federation in response to the destruction of Starkiller Base. However, Vur'naa's reign was brought to an end with his death at the hands of his ambitious apprentice Kylo Ren in 2392, who saw himself as his heir and the rightful ruler of the galaxy. Ren declared himself the new Supreme Leader as he set forth to desrtroy the Federation and forge a new galactic order two years later.
List of Supreme Leaders[]
Der'kal Empire[]
| Period | Supreme Leader |
| 2342—2392 |  Vur'naa |
| 2392—2394 |  Kylo Ren |
List of Supreme Leaders[]
Der'kal Order[]
| Period | Supreme Leader |
| 2394—2397 |  Kylo Ren |