Gold Centurions - or First Centurions - are military command Cylons. Their sole purpose is to command Centurions into battle, although they do not tend to lead from the front. In fact, a Gold Centurion will rarely enter combat at all unless they absolutely have to. This is not due to any form of cowardice at all, it is just that they are needed to command the overall strategy of Cylons they command, and with their loss their troops will not receive new orders until a replacement appears. They are much superior to silver Centurions, having better skills and reactions and able to see the larger picture in battle and having some sort of ability with regards to tactics, although they still favour numbers over complex plans.

It takes one First Centurion to command a Baseship or ground garrison of troops, and unless there are special circumstances, there will not be more than one First Centurion present.

Standard equipment for a First Centurion depends on their preference, but most carry a short sword and either a laser pistol or rifle.