Screen Rant

Star trek’s ranks in order: how starfleet officers get promoted.

From Cadet to Admiral, the career path of a Starfleet officer has become an integral part of the stories of many of Star Trek's best-loved characters.

  • Starfleet officers begin their career at Starfleet Academy as cadets, studying various subjects and participating in extracurricular activities.
  • After graduating from the Academy, officers start at the rank of Ensign and often have to perform less glamorous tasks on their assigned starship.
  • Officers can work their way up the ranks, from Lieutenant Junior Grade to Commander, with each promotion bringing additional responsibilities and opportunities for command.

While many Starfleet hopefuls dream of one day having a command of their own, they must work their way diligently through Star Trek 's rank structure first. While it prides itself on exploration and diplomacy, Starfleet is a military organization at heart, and the command structure is reflective of this fact. The basic structure of Starfleet is very similar to that of the US and Royal Navy, with the high seas being swapped for the stars of deep space.

A promotion in Star Trek is usually a reward for exceptional performance , with many Starfleet officers being promoted in response to the valor and bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. Sometimes, a field promotion can also be handed to Starfleet officers in exceptional circumstances, such as with the Maquis officers in Star Trek: Voyager or Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in Star Trek: Picard season 2. However, everyone's Starfleet story must begin somewhere and that first rung on the ladder usually comes in the form of an application and admittance to Starfleet Academy. Here are the various ranks in Starfleet, from the lowly Ensign to Admiral.

Star Trek: Every Captain of the Enterprise

Starfleet academy hopefuls.

Every Starfleet officer's career starts at Starfleet Academy, where prospective recruits enroll as cadets . Starfleet Cadets spend four to eight years at the Academy, depending on their program, where they study a variety of subjects. Courses on offer at Starfleet Academy include Warp Theory, Robotics, Quantum Chemistry, and the legendary Kobayashi Maru simulation . There's also a variety of extracurricular activities on offer at the Academy that also provide formative experiences. Previous Cadets like Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) have helped Starfleet Academy groundskeeper Boothby (Ray Walston) tend to the roses, while the Rigel Cup was won by the Nova Squadron shortly before the tragic accident that left a lasting impression on Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton).

Starfleet Academy played a big role in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series is the first time a Star Trek show will be set at the school.

Lowest of the Lower Deckers

After graduating from Starfleet Academy, a Cadet is given their first assignment to a starship as an Ensign. This is the lowest position aboard, which usually means that they have to do the less glamorous jobs aboard their assigned starship. Star Trek: Lower Decks has depicted jobs as menial as holodeck filter duty, and the cataloging of various weird and wonderful alien artifacts. Not every Ensign is a lower-decker, however. Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) is key to keeping the USS Enterprise connected in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) was integral in working on various solutions to returning the USS Voyager home to the Alpha Quadrant.

8 Lieutenant Junior Grade

Congrats, it's your first command rank.

Lieutenant junior grade is the next step-up for an Ensign , denoted by the additional black and gold pip on the collar. Also known as a Lieutenant JG, this rank allows for limited command responsibilities. Notable junior grade lieutenants include Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz), a fiercely intelligent but painfully shy engineer. Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) was also a JG, and his early arrogance suggested he was ostentatiously choosing to slum it as a lieutenant junior grade due to his desire to study frontier medicine. When the Lower Deckers of the USS Cerritos were promoted in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 , they became the most notable Lieutenant Junior Grades in modern Star Trek .

7 Lieutenant

Welcome to starfleet middle management.

After earning a promotion to Lieutenant, the black and gold pip of the JG becomes fully gold, denoting their additional responsibilities. Many Star Trek lieutenants are responsible for various departments aboard their assigned starship. For example, Lieutenant La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) and Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) were in charge of security on the USS Enterprise and Enterprise-D, respectively, while starship helmsmen like Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) are ranked Lieutenants.

In both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , the Lieutenant was the lowest rank in the senior staff, but still allowed them to provide valuable insight and input into any issues facing the crew. Star Trek: Voyager 's Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) bucked this trend by being privy to various command meetings.

Star Trek: Every Version Of The Starship Enterprise

6 lieutenant commander, now you're running your own starfleet department..

Lieutenant Commanders were Heads of Departments or Executive Officers aboard their assigned starships, referred to as " Commander " by those serving under them or their senior officers. Lieutenant Commanders had an additional black pip added to their collar which would become gold on their next promotion. In Star Trek 's 23rd century, the second-in-command on the USS Enterprise was Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), who was later succeeded by Lt. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy). However, this had changed by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation , with Starfleet Lieutenant Commanders instead serving as Number One on smaller ships, as Lt. Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) did on the USS Saratoga.

5 Commander

Welcome aboard, number one.

Commander is the last step on the Starfleet career ladder to the captain's chair and one of the most senior ranks on any starship as they deputized for the ship's Captain. Commanders who are starship First Officers often receive the nickname "Number One." In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Commander was the most senior rank until season 3, when Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) finally received his promotion to Captain.

Despite Star Trek 's fascination with its Captain characters, Commander was never a barrier to leading a show, as proved by both Sisko and Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in Star Trek: Discovery . The most notable Commander was William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), who felt like second-in-command of the Federation flagship was more fulfilling than being Captain of a less-celebrated starship.

The rank most Starfleet Officers dream of

Captain of a starship is what many Starfleet officers dream of , and is given to those in command of their own starships. They had enormous responsibilities for the safety of their crew and to Starfleet's Prime Directive. The Captain's rank was also applied to various other positions, such as Captain of Engineering, the position held by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock .

Generally, the position of Captain was the most senior role that still had the relative freedom of deep space exploration and adventure. So much so that Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) warned Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) against accepting a promotion to Admiral in Star Trek Generations . It was a warning that Picard would later ignore, much to his regret.

3 Vice Admiral

You've achieved flag officer status.

Vice Admiral is the rank between Captain and Starfleet Admiral, denoted by three pips on a black and gold bar badge on the collar. The most notable holder of this position is Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) who received her promotion after commanding the USS Voyager through the Delta Quadrant. However, Janeway still had to answer to someone, as seen in her conflict with Admiral Edward Jellico (Ronny Cox) in Star Trek: Prodigy season 1. The earliest notable Vice Admiral was the 22nd Century's Maxwell Forrest (Vaughn Armstrong) who was in constant contact with Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) in Star Trek: Enterprise , often being the mediator between Starfleet and the Vulcans in the early days of deep space exploration.

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture , James T. Kirk held the rank of Rear Admiral and was Chief of Starfleet Operations.

Try not to become a Badmiral

Admiral is the highest position in the Royal Navy, however, Starfleet does have a higher position of Fleet Admiral, held by the doomed Elizabeth Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy) in Star Trek: Picard season 3. A Starfleet Admiral is responsible for entire divisions of Starfleet. Notable Starfleet Admirals include Robert April (Adrian Holmes) who oversees his former command, the USS Enterprise, and Owen Paris (Richard Herd) who oversaw the Pathfinder Project that established long-range communications with the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Jean-Luc Picard later became Admiral of the Romulan rescue armada in response to the impending supernova but resigned his commission in protest at the Federation abandoning the evacuation, and their ideals.

Many Starfleet Admirals go insane or become villains for some reason.

1 Other Notable Starfleet Ranks

From specialist to warrant officer to commodore.

There are also sideways promotions available to Starfleet officers , such as Fleet Captain and Commodore. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) got his Fleet Captain promotion in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 while overseeing work on the Deuterium refinery. It was a temporary promotion that allowed Pike to be in overall charge of both the USS Enterprise and USS Farragut for the duration of the refinery project. Similarly, Starfleet Commodores also have overall responsibility for multiple starships, with Geordi La Forge reaching this position with his promotion to curator of the Athan Prime Fleet Museum in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

In Star Trek: Picard season 1, Commodore Oh (Tamlyn Tomita) was Chief of Starfleet Security before she exposed herself as a deep cover Romulan agent named General Nedar.

There are also the lower-ranked non-commissioned officer roles or NCOs. Traditionally, NCOs wouldn't enter a military organization via conventional means like training academies and instead worked their way up through the ranks. The most notable Star Trek NCO is Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) who was put in charge of engineering on Deep Space Nine and was reportedly the most important man in Starfleet history. Another notable NCO position is the Warrant Officer, a role granted to Dal R'El (Brett Gray) and the former crew of the USS Protostar by Vice Admiral Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy season 1's finale . Michael Burnham also held the unranked position of Specialist when she joined the USS Discovery after she was released from a Federation penal colony in Star Trek: Discovery season 1.

Every Star Trek series except Star Trek: Prodigy is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Prodigy i s available to stream on Netflix.

Star Trek Ranks, Explained

Though primarily peaceful, Starfleet follows a quasi-military protocol, which means a chain of command that ensures all runs smoothly.

Starting with the original series, Star Trek has adopted a quasi-military series of ranks and protocols for its characters. Starfleet is ostensibly a peaceful organization dedicated to exploration and diplomacy, but things can get dangerous on the final frontier. A functioning chain of command is necessary in the event of trouble to ensure that everyone operates at peak efficiency.

It's a bit of a paradox, since Starfleet officers also tend to be rugged individualists, but it makes a good deal of sense and over time has become an indispensable part of the franchise. A given character's rank speaks volumes about their comparative age, their position onboard, and their relationship with the other members of the crew. As with most things Star Trek, rank insignia has evolved over time. Here's a breakdown of Starfleet's ranking system in descending order from the lowliest cadets to the most powerful admirals.

Updated January 18, 2024 by Robert Vaux: Star Trek's ranking system is very stable at this point, and very little tends to change. The article has been updated to include a brief list of prominent members of each rank, along with the series and seasons they held it. It has also been updated to conform to current CBR guidelines.

9 Cadets Are Officers in Training at Starfleet Academy

Star trek: voyager actor weighs in on controversial tuvix debate.

Cadets are typically students at Starfleet Academy , spending time onboard a starship as part of their training. They hold no rank and must obey the orders of any crewmen. They're often issued temporary badges or communicators and usually have a supervisory officer to watch over them. Cadets in the 23rd century wear badges with a distinctive black backing. Cadets in the 24th century wear distinctive uniforms denoting their status.

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the Enterprise is used as a training vessel, with the crew consisting almost entirely of cadets. Wesley Crusher formally joins Starfleet Academy starting in Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4, Episode 9, "Final Mission," and spends most of his subsequent appearances at that rank. Similarly, Nyota Uhura joins the Enterprise as a cadet in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as does Sylvia Tilly in Star Trek: Discovery.

8 Enlisted Personnel/NCO Are Starfleet's Worker Bees

While officers attend Starfleet Academy, the rank-and-file personnel attend the 24th-century equivalent of boot camp. They become the anonymous crew working in the background, performing the countless tiny tasks required to keep a starship running. Their ranks include both enlisted crewmen and petty officers (the equivalent of sergeants) who often play supervisory roles. They typically lack any insignia on their uniforms, though chief petty officers in the Next Generation era sometimes have a black pip or similar marking.

Enlisted personnel often serve as The Original Series ' infamous red shirts : doomed to die in the name of plot exposition. The Next Generation introduces perhaps Starfleet's best-known enlisted man. Miles O'Brien runs the transporters on the Enterprise-D, and later becomes Chief of Operations on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

7 Ensigns Hold The Lowest Rank

Every star trek series, ranked.

Ensigns are the lowest-ranking officers on Starfleet vessels. Cadets typically receive the rank of ensign immediately upon graduation from Starfleet Academy. While they technically have command authority, they're usually assigned menial tasks beneath the attention of the senior officers. Like NCOs, they lack insignia on their uniforms in The Original Series era. With The Next Generation and later series, ensigns receive a single gold pip on their collar. They're often lumped into the red shirt category.

Harry Kim is probably the franchise's most famous (or infamous) ensign, failing to receive a single promotion through Star Trek: Voyager's seven seasons , despite serving with distinction on the bridge. The Original Series' Pavel Chekov also begins his Starfleet career as an ensign, though he advances at a faster rate. Of course, the four main characters in Star Trek: Lower Decks are ensigns, though they all receive a promotion to lieutenant, junior grade at the beginning of Season 4.

6 Lieutenant, Junior Grade Have More Responsibility Than Ensigns

The next step up the ladder is lieutenant, junior grade. These are officers with more authority and responsibility than ensigns, but who still require seasoning before taking higher command positions. Medical personnel typically receive the lieutenant, junior grade rank after graduating, which reflects their extended training time. The Original Series uses a single dashed bar on the uniform sleeves to denote them, though Strange New Worlds has retconned that with a connected colored bar. T he Next Generation and later series note the rank with a second black pip in addition to the ensign's colored pip.

Both Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax hold the rank of lieutenant, junior grade when they begin their duties on Deep Space 9, though Ezri receives hers as a field promotion in Season 7, Episode 3, "Afterimage." Geordi La Forge starts as a lieutenant, junior grade too, as does Mr. Worf. B'Elanna Torres receives the rank on a provisional basis when she joins the crew of the Voyager, and the Lower Decks crew are all promoted to lieutenant, junior grade in Season 4, Episode 1, "Twovix."

5 Lieutenants Lead the Away Teams and More

Did star trek (2009) incorporate a story from a canceled original series movie.

Lieutenants have advanced to the point where they can take on considerable responsibilities. They may lead away teams or control key systems, and they often appear among the bridge crew or even as department heads. The Original Series notes them with a single bar on the uniform sleeve, while Strange New Worlds adds a second thinner bar above the lieutenant, junior grade's insignia. The Next Generation uses two colored pips on the collar — a method emulated by subsequent series.

Worf spends most of The Next Generation's later seasons as a lieutenant (he's promoted to lieutenant commander during the events of Star Trek Generations ) while Ro Laren is promoted to lieutenant shortly before her defection to the Maquis in The Next Generation Season 7, Episode 24, "Preemptive Strike." Lieutenants often occupy the helm position, including Hikaru Sulu in The Original Series, Keyla Detmer in Star Trek: Discovery , and Erica Ortegas in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

4 Lieutenant Commanders Head up Departments

Lieutenant commanders hold positions of senior responsibility onboard a starship, even serving as executive officers or de facto captains on small ships. One larger ships, they often serve as the head of specific departments such as science and engineering. In The Original Series , the rank is designated with two stripes on the sleeve — one thick, one dashed — which Strange New Worlds adjusts to two thick colored bands. The Next Generation and subsequent shows note lieutenant commanders with two colored pips and one black one.

Montgomery Scott holds the rank of lieutenant commander in The Original Series , acting as Chief Engineer and even commanding the Enterprise when Kirk and Spock are away on missions. Similarly, Geordi La Forge rises to the rank of lieutenant commander in The Next Generation , joining Data and Deanna Troi at the position, though the latter eventually advances to commander. Worf and Jadzia Dax are both lieutenant commanders when they begin their romance on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Lastly, the original Number One — Una Chin-Riley on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — is a lieutenant commander.

3 Commanders Aid and Can Take Over the Captain's Dutires

After star trek: discovery, the 32nd century should be the franchise's new frontier.

Commanders are usually the ship's executive officers, "Number Ones," who assist the captain in their duties and step up in the event the captain is incapacitated. Commanders are often viewed as captains in training, and ultimately destined for a ship of their own in the future. In some cases, commanders are the head authority on smaller ships or space stations. Chief medical officers often hold this position as well. They're delineated by two thick bands on their sleeves in The Original Series era and three colored pips on the collar in The Next Generation and later.

Mr. Spock holds the rank of commander during the events of The Original Series , serving double duty as chief science officer as well. He's been followed by the likes of William Riker on The Next Generation and Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Picard . In addition, Beverly Crusher and Leonard McCoy both hold the rank of commander, while Deanna Tori is promoted to commander in Season 7, Episode 16, "Thine Own Self." Ben Sisko also begins his tenure on Deep Space 9 as a commander before being promoted to full captain at the end of Season 3.

2 Captains Command Starfleet's Various Starships

The captain serves as the commander of a starship, with the entire crew ranked beneath them. This affords them a great deal of autonomy, but also equal amounts of responsibility. Starships must often face dangers alone in the far depths of space. It falls to the captain to make the final call when lives are at stake. Occasionally, captains can be found in other duties, such as commanding a star base or holds an administrative position on Earth. Captains are delineated by three stripes on their sleeves in the Original Series era — two thick, one dashed — which Strange New Worlds slightly alters to a single thin band sandwiched between two thicker ones. The Next Generation era uses four full pips on the collar.

Most Star Trek series use a captain as the main character, starting with James T. Kirk in The Original Series . Their ranks include Jean-Luc Picard, Kathryn Janeway, Christopher Pike, and Carol Freeman. In addition, many lower-ranking characters eventually attain the captain's chair, such as Will Riker, Tuvok, and Mr. Spock. Both Ben Sisko and Michael Burnham become captain after several seasons of climbing the ranks, a change from most Star Trek series which tend to begin with their captains in place.

1 Admirals Possess The Greatest Rank and Come to Represent Starfleet Itself

Gene roddenberry created star trek, but who is the woman behind the franchise.

Admirals are Starfleet's major movers and shakers, placed in charge of entire fleets or overseeing vital operations. As flag officers, they no longer serve onboard starships, though they can claim command of one if circumstances dictate. James T. Kirk takes control of the Enterprise as an Admiral in both Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , while both Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Prodigy and Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard are the authority on their respective vessels.

In addition to giving successful captains a cushy desk job, Star Trek often uses admirals as stand-ins for Starfleet itself: either aiding the crew in their endeavors or standing in their way when they go against protocol. They're delineated by a wide variety of methods, and hold varying ranks within the admiralty, such as Vice Admiral and Commodore, that shift from project to project.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Memory Beta, non-canon Star Trek Wiki

A friendly reminder regarding spoilers ! At present the expanded Trek universe is in a period of major upheaval with the continuations of Discovery and Prodigy , the advent of new eras in gaming with the Star Trek Adventures RPG , Star Trek: Infinite and Star Trek Online , as well as other post-57th Anniversary publications such as the ongoing IDW Star Trek comic and spin-off Star Trek: Defiant . Therefore, please be courteous to other users who may not be aware of current developments by using the {{ spoiler }}, {{ spoilers }} OR {{ majorspoiler }} tags when adding new information from sources less than six months old (even if it is minor info). Also, please do not include details in the summary bar when editing pages and do not anticipate making additions relating to sources not yet in release. THANK YOU

  • Humans (24th century)
  • Starfleet personnel
  • Starfleet personnel (24th century)
  • Starfleet engineers
  • 24th century births

Stanley Kosinski

  • View history

Stanley Kosinski (alt. "Kozinski" ) was a 24th century Human man, a Starfleet propulsion expert in the 2360s decade . He held the rank of specialist .

  • 1.1 First Splinter timeline
  • 2.1 Connections
  • 2.2.1 Appearances
  • 2.3 External link

Biography [ ]

Kosinski attended the Starfleet Technical Services Academy on Mars. ( DS9 novel : The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko )

Using a series of equations, Kosinski was able to make a measurable increase in propulsion with the starships USS Ajax and USS Fearless . His warp drive efficiency upgrade experiments brought him to the USS Enterprise -D in 2364 , where he was to test different ways of entering warp speed and different intermix ratios. It later was revealed that it was his mysterious assistant, The Traveler , who was affecting the upgrades and not him. ( TNG episode : " Where No One Has Gone Before ")

Dexter Remmick criticised Picard and his crew for apparently letting Kosinski ride roughshod over them. ( TNG episode : " Coming of Age ")

Wesley Crusher tested a theory of Kosinski’s in 2367. ( TNG episode : " Remember Me ")

Geordi LaForge considered Kosinski, Paul Manheim and Bruce Maddox to be jerks and prima donnas. ( TNG novel : Q-Space )

First Splinter timeline [ ]

From 2383 onwards he worked as a data analyst on Memory Alpha . ( Prometheus novel : In the Heart of Chaos )

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances and references [ ], appearances [ ].

  • TNG episode : " Where No One Has Gone Before "
  • PRM novel : In the Heart of Chaos

External link [ ]

  • Stanley Kosinski article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
  • 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
  • 2 The Chase
  • 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
  • Starfleet Ranks

This article is official Bravo Fleet canon.

Starfleet Ranks represent the basic organizational structure of Starfleet , with a grade and insignia for everyone ranging from the Commander-in-Chief herself to the lowest-ranking crewmen. Though a non-military exploratory, defensive, and humanitarian organization, Starfleet uses a hierarchy derived from the space fleets of the Federation's members, which is heavily influenced by the United Earth Starfleet.

  • 1.1 Flag Officers
  • 1.2 Line Officers
  • 1.3 Commissioned Officer Trainees
  • 2.1 Non-Commissioned Officers
  • 2.2 Enlisted Personnel
  • 3 Divisional Colors
  • 4 Starfleet Ranks In-Play

Commissioned Officers

Commissioned Officers are the members of Starfleet who have a commission from the Federation Council granting them command authority over lower-ranking commissioned officers and all non-commissioned officers. The ability to command a starship is reserved solely for commissioned officers. Generally, commissioned officers have attended Starfleet Academy, but others earn their rank through Officer Candidate School. Commissioned officers in Starfleet must either have a university education or the equivalent.

Flag Officers

Main Article: Starfleet Flag Officers

Flag Officers are the senior-most Starfleet officers, so-named for the old Earth naval tradition of hoisting a command flag to designate the lead ship in a group of ships, the flagship. Flag Officers in Starfleet command groups of ships (from task groups to entire fleets) and important starbases, and also serve in staff roles at various levels of the Starfleet hierarchy.

Line Officers

Main Article: Starfleet Line Officers

Line Officers represent the bulk of the members of Starfleet holding officer ranks, with responsibilities ranging from the command of starship to junior staff positions on minor outposts. Line officers are subordinate to flag officers and have authority over more junior line officers and all non-commissioned officers.

Commissioned Officer Trainees

Starfleet Academy Cadets rank above crewmen and alongside petty officers, but as officers-in-training, this authority is rarely used in practice. Historically, Starfleet has varied from decade to decade on how it delineates grades of cadets. As of 2399, cadets do not wear distinctive rank insignia or departmental colors to differentiate between their year at the academy or course of study. While on their final training cruise aboard a starship or starbase, cadets are classified as midshipmen and wear a single hollow pip. This may occur before or after their academic graduation from Starfleet Academy and is requisite for their promotion to ensign. Cadets who elect for a six-year program including doctoral work (such as Physicians, Counselors, and Lawyers) are classified as midshipmen once they have completed the portion of their program at Starfleet Academy and move to their graduate studies.

Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Personnel

Main Article: Starfleet Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Personnel

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Enlisted Personnel are members of Starfleet who serve in technical and specialist roles, working under Commissioned Officers. Though ineligible to hold command, these members are also not required to attend Starfleet Academy or to have a university degree, though many of them in science and engineering specialist roles do.

Non-Commissioned Officers

Non-Commissioned Officers are members of Starfleet are technical experts and leaders of more junior enlisted personnel. All non-commissioned officers are subordinate to commissioned officers as a matter of course, though many commands have them supervising midshipmen, ensigns and even junior lieutenants as a normal part of their training. Non-commissioned officers may elect to become commissioned officers through the completion of Starfleet Academy coursework or Officer Candidate School.

Enlisted Personnel

Enlisted Personnel are members of Starfleet who have joined Starfleet directly and who have received basic training in their chosen career path. Crewmen are fully trained and able to serve on a starship or starbase, wearing a standard uniform with no rank insignia. Crewmen Recruits are still in training and wear the same uniform as Starfleet Academy cadets, but in silver rather than red.

Divisional Colors

Main Article: Starfleet Onboard Departments

Starfleet utilizes three uniform colors for officers to designate their division assignments, which are the broader categories under which starship and station departments are organized. Enlisted personnel in special services (such as cooks, waiters, hairdressers, and other non-technical support staff) fall under operations but wear silver uniforms to make them easy to distinguish from their shipmates while serving.

Starfleet Ranks In-Play

  • Any member can create characters up to the rank of Captain or their fleet rank, whichever is higher. This rule can be found in the Canon Policy , and was instituted to give some freedom for folks still starting out to use more senior characters, especially those members who advance to staff roles early in their time here--it wouldn't make much sense for a Lieutenant Commander to be a TFXO or TFCO in-universe, for instance.
  • While Starfleet is not a military, some things about the way rank is portrayed are borrowed closely from modern naval tradition, and so modern militaries could be a source of inspiration for realistic/reasonable rank advancement. On the other hand, William T. Riker was a full commander by age 29, so you shouldn't feel beholden to the real world either.
  • Each task force has an NPC Commodore in command of the task force headquarters, so this is a suitable character for you to use to get orders from, as members can't create their own flag officers if they do not hold flag rank themselves.

Credit for the Officers' rank insignia goes to Bravo Fleet. The collars were created by Emily.

  • Bravo Fleet Canon

How To Tell A Star Trek Character's Rank At A Glance: Rank Pips Explained

Star Trek: The Next Generation Ian McKellen

This post contains  spoilers for the premiere of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4.

At the beginning of the fourth season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," the four main characters Boimler (Jack Quaid), Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Tendi (Noël Wells), and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) are each promoted from the lowly rank of ensign to the only slightly-less-lowly rank of lieutenant junior grade. They still don't have much clout on the U.S.S. Cerritos, but at least now they no longer have to sleep in a hallway. One can see their promotions right away as, on their collars, they wear one solid pip and one empty pip. That, any Trekkie will instantly tell you, is the configuration for a lieutenant junior grade.

It should be noted that "Star Trek" has, since its inception, used extant naval ranks to designate Starfleet officers. Just like in the real United States Navy, officers start at the rank of ensign, then work their way up through lieutenant junior grade, then lieutenant, then lieutenant commander, then commander, then captain, before moving into the various ranks of admiral. "Star Trek" often makes reference to admirals and sometimes vice-admirals. There is also an occasional fleet admiral, the highest rank in both the Navy and in Starfleet. "Star Trek," to my recollection, has never referred to a real admiral, either lower half or upper half. Perhaps by the 22nd century, those ranks will be abandoned. 

To command a starship, one typically has to bear the rank of captain, as we know from Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Freeman, Pike, etc. Although it is not a requirement, a starship's first officer traditionally holds the rank of commander (Riker, Chakotay, Ransom, etc.). 

We're going to do a deep dive into Starfleet ranking, so strap in for some extremely nerdy deep cuts. 

The pips ranking system on "Star Trek" wasn't adopted until the days of "Next Generation," but they are the clearest, so it's a good place to start when educating one's self on Starfleet's chain of command. 

Petty officers wear one empty pip on a starship. These are the enlisted members who didn't attend Starfleet Academy. Engineers, security personnel, yeomen, and the like are petty officers and take orders from the lowest-ranking Academy graduate officers on the ship. If one looks into expanded universe lore, one can find a hierarchy of Starfleet petty officers. There are master petty officers at the top, chief petty officers directly underneath, and several ranks below them. Those ranks, however, are rarely discussed on "Star Trek."

As mentioned above, ensigns wear one full pip, as seen on Wesley Crusher's collar above. Lieutenants junior grade wear one full pip and one empty pip. Lieutenants wear two full pips, and lieutenant commanders wear two full pips and one empty pip. 

Commanders wear three pips, because it is a difficult rank to achieve. 

Captains wear four pips, and are typically given the promotion when they are put in command of a starship. It's understood that only one captain lives on a starship at any given time. 

Admirals have their own ranking system, with solid pips surrounded by boxes.

Commodores (an honorary title) have one boxed pip, rear admirals have two, vice admirals have three, regular admirals have four, and fleet admirals have five. "Star Trek" only deals with admirals from time to time, however, and characters who achieve that rank are often presented as villainous or unduly ambitious; Trekkies have been trained to be suspicious of admirals . 

Other rank insignias

The premise of "Star Trek: Voyager" took a single Federation starship and slung it clear across the galaxy with a group of rebel Maquis members on board. Rather than keep the Maquis in the brig for the 70 years it would take the U.S.S. Voyager to return to Earth, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) assigned them ranks and made them part of the crew. Because these characters had not been to Starfleet Academy, however, they were given only provisional field ranks, a status reflected in their rank pips. 

One can see the rank of Chakotay (Robert Beltran) in the photo above. He wears an elongated, rounded-edged bar with diagonal stripes. The coloration on the stripes corresponds to the open and closed pips of more traditional ranks. One can be a provisional ensign all the way up to a provisional captain. It's understood that these ranks are temporary. On the latest season of "Star Trek: Lower Decks," the character of T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) bears a provisional rank as she is an exchange officer from a Vulcan ship. 

In some alternate future timelines (and this is "Star Trek," so there are plenty of those), the franchise's costume designers moved the rank pips from uniform collars to the communicator badges on their chests. Rather than little circular pips, their badges bore one to four elongated stripes behind the familiar Starfleet delta symbol. 

Trekkies caught onto the pip ranking system pretty quickly, and many of us learned all about naval ranks through "Star Trek." The original series, however, was a little more oblique about visual ranking systems. It used to be a code stitched onto officer's sleeves. 

The history of rank insignias

In the picture above, one can see the way ranks used to work on the original "Star Trek." Captain Kirk (William Shatner) had no rank on his collar, but wavy golden stripes around his wrist. Looking around at the crew, one found the following system: ensigns had no stripes on their wrists, while lieutenants junior grade had single "dashed" stripes. Lieutenants had a single solid stripe, and lieutenant commanders had a solid stripe and a dashed stripe (as seen on Scotty above). 

Commanders (see Spock) had two solid stripes and captains (see Kirk) had two solid stripes with a dashed stripe in between them. The stripes were gold, giving the uniforms a pleasingly garish touch. 

The "Star Trek" movies made the ranking code even more oblique. Rather than deal with a series of easily readable pips or stripes, the uniforms seen in "Star Trek II" through " Star Trek VI " bore a formal over-the-shoulder strap that rested on the wearer's right shoulder. Whatever pin you saw affixed to that strap corresponded to the officer's rank. Sadly, there was no intuitive way to discern what that rank might be. Ensigns, for instance, wore a small v-shaped pin. Lieutenants junior grade wore two funnel-shaped pins. Lieutenants wore an hourglass-shaped pin, and lieutenant commanders wore an elongated pennant-like shape with a single stripe through it. Commanders wore the same shape but with two stripes. The captain got to be fancy and wore a pin with three stripes, but also a pair of pointy arrowhead-like symbols affixed to it. 

Only deep-cut Trekkies can suss out the differences. 

That ranking system is an aberration, though. In the early days of "Star Trek: Enterprise" and the latter days of "Star Trek: Picard," the pip system is solidly in place. 

Star Trek home

  • More to Explore
  • Series & Movies

Coming Soon

Blast, that page isn’t here yet. Return to the homepage or try a search .

If you think there should be something here, please reach out for support .

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

Kosinski - rank pins and combadge mystery

Discussion in ' Star Trek: The Next Generation ' started by RapidNadion , Dec 11, 2009 .

CoveTom

CoveTom Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

The communicators were, unfortunately, a victim of the inconsistent Trek technology. There was never a consistency to whether or not intra-ship communication was handled by comm badge, comm panel, or just used the same interface that they use to talk to the computer. In one episode, a character will hit their comm badge to signal the bridge. In another, they'll go to a computer panel in the corridor. In another, they just announce who they want to talk to and the computer seems to understand and route it. So who knows if a comm badge would be necessary or not on a starbase?  

sbk1234

sbk1234 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

I always thought of him as a civilian with some sort of honorary Starfleet status. However, Starfleet still wanted to keep him somewhat restricted, so he wasn't given a combadge. Perhaps that would limit him from top secret areas, or whatnot. Of course, other security breeches, like that Klingon in The Drumhead had a communicator, so I guess there's some inconsistency in my explanaition. Oh, well. So it goes.  

Vanyel

Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

Timo said: ↑ Indeed: "Starfleet expert on propulsion" and "expert on Starfleet propulsion" would be two different things, but perhaps both would be expressed by "Starfleet propulsion expert"? The thing is, Starfleet would have very little need for "warrant officers" or other such civilian helpers who get a "play rank" so that they can interact with the military and lift military pay. It seems that Starfleet's own officers are highly trained academicians all (or nearly all), and they choose to dedicate themselves to a military career instead of just doing contract work for a defined or undefined period of time. If somebody warrants a, well, warrant, then he or she must be really special... On the other hand, civilian geniuses seem to do work for Starfleet without having to play costume games: e.g. Daystrom never integrated into the Fleet organization, even if he wore Starfleet-looking coveralls (over a nonstandard shirt) for the mission in "The Ultimate Computer". Kosinski's assistant is in civvies, too. All the stranger, then, that Kosinski would wear a uniform. Timo Saloniemi Click to expand...

Admiral Buzzkill

Admiral Buzzkill Fleet Admiral Admiral

The producers had no clear idea what they were doing with Starfleet rank or the military/civilian status of its members during production of at least the first dozen episodes of TNG.  
  • Log in with Facebook
  • No, create an account now.
  • Yes, my password is:
  • Forgot your password?
  • Search titles only

Separate names with a comma.

  • Search this thread only
  • Display results as threads

Useful Searches

  • Recent Posts

TNG: S1 – E6: Where No One Has Gone Before

Where No One Has Gone Before

The stakes are very high on a show that takes its title from the Trek opening mantra — Where No One Has Gone Before . Even though a lot was riding on this episode, and I think it delivers. The crew and the viewer both go to unexpected places. This also sets up Wesley Crusher’s run on the show to be a short one.

STARDATE: 41263.1

We join the ship as it rendezvoused with the (which was an Excelsior -class vessel) out among the stars somewhere, to take on board a propulsion expert. The expert, Kosinski, has supposedly taken ships from the previous era and made them operate in tip-top shape.

U.S.S. Fearless

On the bridge, Riker and Data both said that Kosinski’s new engine specs and numbers don’t make sense when tested. Picard argued with them, saying that Starfleet had several ships, which were doing better. Riker took point on the visitors when they beamed over.

When Kosinski beamed over, Troi, Riker, and Chief Engineer Argyle were there to greet him. It was strange to see Kosinski without a combadge. Not sure why he didn’t have one. Perhaps they needed to issue him one per the ship he was serving on.

Anyhow, Kosinski was super-duper arrogant. He didn’t want to deal with Riker; rather, he wanted Picard instead. Riker asked the other guy who beamed over what his name was. He said he was simply “Mr. Kosinski’s assistant,” as his name was unpronounceable by humans. Riker noted that the assistant was from Tau Alpha C, which is a very long distance away.

The assistant had two large fingers on each hand and a thumb — pretty cool stuff. Trek aliens often had the same type of hands as humans, which is … blah. We can’t expect all intelligent life to have descended from tree-grabbing creatures with five fingers.

Troi said that she could feel arrogance from Kosinski, but absolutely nothing from the assistant. She said he was a “puzzle.” She was right!

When Kosinski arrived in engineering, he immediately belittled Argyle as the chief engineer tried to ask a question. Kosinski told Argyle that he wasn’t a teacher, and would not become one (to catch Argyle up on the technique required to make the engines work as he said they would).

Biff Yeager as Argyle

He tried to push on with his changes, but Riker demanded that he explain some of what he was planning to himself and Argyle. His assistant sat at an auxiliary panel and helped conduct the engine tuning. Wesley watched as he made the calculations with puzzlement. The assistant made a few adjustments, and so did Wesley, who said that after his modifications to the warp field, Kosinski’s experiment might work.

After a lecture by Kosinski, Riker and Argyle agreed to let Kosinski try to tune the engines.

As they hit Warp 1.5, Kosinski and his partner started their changes. The warp core began to pulse at an accelerated rate, and Kosinski got upset with his assistant. Something was wrong. To fix it, the assistant held both of his hands on the panel and phased in and out of sight. It looked like he was mind-melding with the ship.

Wes and the Traveler

The Enterprise shot past Warp 10, which is supposed to be impossible. Kosinski was silently freaking. Picard ordered an all stop. Geordi said they were two galaxies away from their own, in a galaxy called M-33. Data said they’d traveled over 2.7 million light-years. Geordi said it would take 300 years to get back home at maximum warp.

Picard was not happy.

Kosinski came to the bridge to explain to Picard, saying that he’d made a “wonderful, incredible mistake.” As he explained, Riker noted that it sounded like nonsense, but agreed that it must not be. Argyle said that a new warp scale should be created, known as the “Kosinski Scale.” Kosinski liked that.

In engineering, the assistant looked worn out. Wesley offered his mom for assistance. Wesley asked him if space, time, and thought were not separate… the assistant grabbed him and told him to never say something like that again.

Picard asked Kosinski if he could get them back. Kosinski said he could and left to get back to Engineering. After he left, the bridge crew badgered Picard with questions. Data suggested that they stay and study while they are so far out. Picard sort of liked that idea.

No one liked Kosinski

Which is a good point… they should have left a probe behind to collect information about this new, unexplored territory. That would have been fantastic, like a long-range NASA explorer.

Picard finally decided to go back, saying that once Starfleet figured out Kosinski’s method, they could send a purely scientific vessel to explore.

In engineering, Wes tried to tell Riker about what the assistant did (phasing out), but Riker brushed him off. The assistant was almost too tired to help this time but agreed to do so. As Kosinski was not able to get his formula to work, the assistant phased out again, but this time Riker watched it happen. The assistant fell in exhaustion.

Again the ship went far beyond where anyone had gone before… the visual effects on the crew (Data and Geordi) looked like what happened in ST:TMP when the Enterprise entered the warp bubble .

Picard ordered all stop. The ship appeared not to be in space anymore, but somewhere blue, surrounded by bubbles. They were now 1 billion light-years from their galaxy.

Soon after, the crew started seeing strange things. Worf saw a creature from the Klingon homeworld, Yar thought rape gangs were chasing her, Picard felt that he was going to fall out of a turbolift into space, then he had tea with his long-dead mother.

Maman

Picard confronted Kosinski about what happened, and Wesley told how the assistant phased in and out while the ship was at such high speeds. They realized that the assistant, not Kosinski was how they were able to go so fast and far. Dr. Crusher, though, said he looked like he was dying.

In sickbay, she struggled with his physiology as she tried to care for him. She did wake him, and he told Picard that he was a “traveler,” and he had no specific destination. He was just curious.

Picard asked if they were where the sensors said they were. The Traveler said that they were, and that “thought” was what brought them there. Kosinski noted that what the Traveller wanted them to believe was “magic” or “nonsense.”

Riker supposed that the Traveler was from a different time. The alien agreed with that. Riker asked why there were no records of previous visits from others in his race. The Traveller said that was because humans were not interesting until now. He said that he would try to get the Enterprise back.

The Traveler asked for a moment with the captain. He told Picard that Wesley was exceptional, and he had a talent for propulsion, energy, and time like Mozart had for music.

“Wesley is such a person… not with music but with the intricacies of time, energy, propulsion and the instruments of this vessel which allow all that to be played,” the Traveler told Picard. He asked Picard to encourage Wes, but say nothing to either the boy or his mother.

Before they tried to leave, Picard ordered the crew to stop thinking of anything outside their duty. He also asked them to think of giving their strength to “The Traveler’s” well being. Troi said she could feel the crew giving their thoughts to the Traveller.

The alien tried again to get the ship to the high speeds, but it was not working as it did before. Eventually, he phased out completely, and as he did, the vessel returned to its point of origin. The Traveler did not return this time.

Picard invited Wes to the bridge and asked him to sit next to Troi on the bridge. Riker said Wes was not allowed because he was not a commissioned officer. So Picard made him an acting ensign. Picard ordered Wesley to learn everything about the ship and send his application to Starfleet Academy.

TREK REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL:

A good one! In the end, it makes you wonder if the Traveler was there just to meet Wesley, or if that is a coincidence. We’ll all find out in the Season 7 episode — “Journey’s End.”

This episode was great because it pushed the defined boundaries of the show and the world of theoretical physics, as we know it. While not quite magic, it gave Picard and crew a bit of a slap in the face. Starfleet and all the beings in the galaxy were not as mighty as they thought they were. Q, aside, others lived on a level that was almost beyond human comprehension.

Interesting that “Where No One Has Gone Before” was about exploration, while “ Where No Man Has Gone Before ” was about battle, death, and strength. It seems that Trek evolved a bit.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Executive Producer … Gene Roddenberry

Co-Producers … Robert Lewin, Herbert Wright Producer … Maurice Hurley Supervising Producer … Robert H. Justman, Rick Berman Written by … Diane Duane and Michael Reaves Directed by … Rob Bowman

Associate Producer … Peter Lauritson Story Editor … Johnny Dawkins

Music by … Ron Jones Main Title Theme by … Jerry Goldsmith, Alexander Courage Director of Photography … Edward R. Brown, A.S.C. Production Designer … Herman Zimmerman Edited by J.P. Farrell

Patrick Stewart Jonathan Frakes

ALSO STARRING

Levar Burton Denise Crosby Michael Dorn Gates McFadden Marina Sirtis Brent Spiner Wil Wheaton

GUEST STARS

Staney Kamel Eric Menyuk Herta Ware

Biff Yeager as Argyle

Charles Dayton … Crewmember Victoria Dillard … Ballerina

Unit Production Manager … David Livingston First Assistant Director … Les Landau Second Assistant Director … Babs Subramaniam Costumes Created by … William Ware Theiss, Executive Consultant

Associate Producer … D.C. Fontana Art Director … Sandy Veneziano Post Production Supervisor … Brooke Benton Visual Effects Coordinator … Robert Legato

Set Decorator … John Dwyer Make-Up Supervisor … Michael Westmore Make-Up Artist … Werner Keppler Hair Supervisor … Richard Sabre Hair Stylist … Carolyn Ferguson Production Associate … Susan Sackett Consulting Senior Illustrator … Andrew Probert Illustrator … Rick Sternbach Scenic Artist … Michael Okuda Set Designer … Richard McKenzie Script Supervisor … Cosmo Genovese Special Effects … Dick Brownfield Costume Supervisor … Janet Stout Property Master … Joe Longo Chief Lighting Technician … Richard Crown First Company Grip … Brian Mills Sound Mixer … Alan Bernard Music Editor … John LaSalandra, S.M.E. Supervising Sound Editor … Bill Wistrom Sound Editors … James Wolvington, Mace Matiosian Computer Graphics … Prime Computer, Inc. Program Consultant … David Gerrold Casting Executive … Helen Mossler Production Coordinator … Diane Overdiek Construction Coordinator … Al Smutko

Lenses and Panaflex Cameras by … Panavision Special Visual Effects by … Industrial Light & Magic, a Division of Lucasfilm, Ltd. Video Optical Effects by … the Post Group Special Video Compositing … Composite Image Systems Editing Facilities … Unitel Video Post Production Sound by … Modern Sound

Casting by … Junie Lowry

© Paramount Pictures Corporation

Eric Menyuk, the actor who portrayed The Traveler, was also up for the part of Lt. Data, which went to the great Brent Spiner. The producers of TNG liked Menyuk so much that they invited him back a few times to reprise his role. Menyuk has since retired from acting and is a lawyer in California.

Memory Alpha

  • View history

Vedala cart

Vedala-recruited specialists

A specialist was any highly-trained individual or expert who worked as a professional in a particular field of study . ( TNG : " The Ensigns of Command ", " First Contact ") Only certain key Starfleet specialists were allowed to handle stasis boxes . ( TAS : " The Slaver Weapon ")

In 2256 , Captain Gabriel Lorca invited Michael Burnham , stripped of rank after a court martial , to join the bridge crew of USS Discovery as a science specialist . ( DIS : " Lethe ") Burnham's official rank was later restored as part of a pardon , rendering this unofficial rank redundant. ( DIS : " Will You Take My Hand? ")

Robert Tomlinson held the title of specialist in 2266 . ( TOS : " Balance of Terror ")

In 2267 , James T. Kirk told the Organian Council of Elders that the Federation could send them specialists and technicians . ( TOS : " Errand of Mercy ")

In 2268 , Rojan singled out Shea and Leslie Thompson for destruction because he needed Kirk, Spock , and Leonard McCoy , all of whom were specialists, unlike the other two. ( TOS : " By Any Other Name ")

Lieutenant Mira Romaine was a specialist lieutenant. ( TOS : " The Lights of Zetar ")

Hikaru Sulu was recognized by the followers of Doctor Sevrin as a " specialist in weapons and navigation . " ( TOS : " The Way to Eden ")

As of 2269 , Starbase 2 had specialists who could better diagnose and treat Janice Lester than the Benecia Colony could. ( TOS : " Turnabout Intruder ")

In 2269 , Lucien described himself as having been " the generalist amid all the specialists. " Asmodeus also described himself as " a specialist in the ethics of magic ", which rendered him suitable to serve as prosecutor at the trial for members of USS Enterprise 's crew . ( TAS : " The Magicks of Megas-Tu ")

Later that year, the Vedala sent for several specialists, including Kirk and Spock, for a critical mission. ( TAS : " The Jihad ")

Neuro-specialist Dr. Toby Russell specialized in spinal injuries like Worf 's 2368 accident. ( TNG : " Ethics ")

  • 1 Types of specialists
  • 2.1 Non-commissioned specialists
  • 2.2 Specialist officers
  • 3 External link

Types of specialists [ ]

  • Briefing specialist ( TNG : " The Icarus Factor ")
  • Chief exobiology specialist ( VOY : " Nothing Human ")
  • Child specialist ( TOS : " And the Children Shall Lead ")
  • Engineering specialist ( TOS : " Space Seed ")
  • EPS control specialist ( ENT : " The Forgotten ")
  • First contact specialist ( DIS : " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum ")
  • Hydraulics specialist ( TNG : " Home Soil ")
  • Language specialist ( ENT : " Observer Effect ")
  • Medical specialist ( TOS : " Space Seed "; TNG : " Conundrum ")
  • Mission specialist ( TNG : " Tin Man ", " The Game ")
  • Neuro-specialist ( TNG : " Ethics ")
  • Obstetrics specialist ( TNG : " Lessons ")
  • Plasma specialist ( TNG : " The Game ")
  • Protein specialist ( ST : " The Trouble with Edward ")
  • Science specialist ( DIS : " Lethe "; TOS : " The Immunity Syndrome ")
  • Starship design specialist ( VOY : " Non Sequitur ")
  • Thermionics specialist ( VOY : " Workforce ")
  • Warp field specialist ( ENT : " Affliction ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; TNG : " Family ", " Suspicions ")
  • Weapons specialist ( Star Trek Into Darkness ; TNG : " Samaritan Snare ")
  • Level 2 specialist
  • Senior Chief Specialist

Starfleet specialists [ ]

Non-commissioned specialists [ ].

  • Chief Petty Officer Sergey Rozhenko ( Warp field specialist )
  • Chief Petty Officer Miles O'Brien ( Senior chief specialist )
  • Specialist (NC-4) Alfonse Pacelli (Spec. 6 Data Flow Management Systems)
  • Crewman John B. Watkins ( Engineer, Grade 4 )
  • Crewman Tal Celes ( Sensor Analyst, Grade 3 )
  • Crewman Jane Taylor ( EPS control specialist )
  • Kosinski ( Propulsion expert)
  • Michael Burnham (Science specialist; former Starfleet officer, stripped of rank; lost title in favor of former rank after pardon )
  • Ash Tyler (as a Section 31 liaison to USS Discovery ; Tyler previously held the rank of lieutenant .)

Specialist officers [ ]

  • Lt. Daniel Kwan (Spec. 5 Warp Field Dynamics)
  • Lt. Walter Pierce (Spec. 5 Linear Warp Containment Systems)
  • Lt. Mira Romaine
  • Lt. Robert Tomlinson
  • Lt. Darien Wallace (Spec. 3 Life Support Systems)
  • Lt. Anaanda Ziff (Spec. 5 Physical Research / Quantum Mechanics)
  • Ensign Lois R. Eckridge (Spec. 3 Emergency Medical Assistant)
  • Ensign Marla Finn (Spec. 2 Warp Field Stabilization Systems)
  • Ensign Harry Kim ( Starship design specialist )
  • Ensign Robin Lefler ( Mission specialist )
  • Ensign Bruno Salvatore (Spec. 4 Biomechanical Research)

External link [ ]

  • Specialist at Wikipedia
  • 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

FlickSphere

FlickSphere

21 Things About Star Trek That Fans Hesitate to Acknowledge

Posted: April 27, 2024 | Last updated: April 27, 2024

<span>Since its first episode aired in 1966, Star Trek has captivated and delighted audiences for generations. From comedic Klingons to purple planets, the epic series has always inspired and provoked the imaginations of its fans, both young and old. </span><span>A trailblazer of its time, especially in the early days, Star Trek was accredited with pushing many boundaries around gender, race, and equality, which is all positive. </span>  <span>However, some questionable aspects of this legendary franchise might have us wanting to shout, “Beam me up, Scotty,” before we would like to admit them. </span>

Star Trek Reused the Same Sets Often

There were some sexist vibes.

<span>Suppose we skip to the present-day installments of Star Trek. In that case, we can see more sexual and gender equality with same-sex relationship storylines, gender-fluid characters, and equal power-sharing amongst male and female crew members.</span>  <span>Furthermore, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12327578/" rel="noopener"><span>the current TV series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</span></a><span> features Dr.Aspen, a non-binary humanitarian aid worker played by Keitel, a trans, non-binary actor. </span>  <span>So, just as the current Star Trek series reflects the values and culture of our time, we must appreciate that earlier series were reflective of these components within their time (even if it is light years away from 2024). </span>

Star Trek Was Forced to Move With the Times

<span>Whether you had a thing for Seven of Nine or wanted to be assimilated into the Borg, not many have escaped feeling attracted to an unearthly being from Star Trek. </span>  <span>We’ve all witnessed Captain Kirk, Picard, and other crew members hook up with humanoid aliens on the show, so why should we be immune from the allure of an ethereal Star Trek alien? </span>

We’ve All Fancied an Alien on Star Trek at Some Point in Our Lives

<span>The Deep Space Nine (DS9) series, which aired between 1994 and 1999, holds a special place in many people’s hearts. It featured some of Star Trek’s most legendary characters, such as Worf, played by Michael Don, and Quark, played by Armin Shimerman. </span>  <span>This series was notably darker and more thought-provoking than any other Star Trek series, but it has been criticized for being too dramatic and appearing more like a soap opera in space. </span>

Drama in Deep Space Nine’

<span>In 1995, Captain Janeway took over our screens as the first female lead of </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112178/" rel="noopener"><span>Star Trek Voyager, boldly going</span></a><span> where no man (or woman) had gone before.</span>  <span>There was a massive backlash from fans and the media about the audacity of having a female Captain in Star Trek and how it wouldn’t work.</span>  <span>Somehow, in 2024, it feels hard to believe such a narrative existed, but sadly, it did. </span>

Star Trek Voyager Criticized for Having a Female Captain

<span>It’s no secret that some of Star Trek’s storylines have been dubious, politically incorrect, and, at other times, extremely cringy to watch. </span>  <span>Retrospect, S4, Ep 17 has been heavily criticized for its portrayal of a female rape victim and how her accusations and credibility were undermined.</span>  <span>In the episode, Seven of Nine accuses Kovin of violating her, but her claims aren’t taken seriously. Kovin disappears without explanation, and Seven’s reliability as a witness and victim is questioned. </span>

The Story Lines Weren’t Always Great

<span>From dodgy prosthetics to fake foreheads and people painted green, sometimes the make-up and costume departments severely missed the mark, and it’s okay to admit that some of the </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://screenrant.com/star-trek-outfits-costumes-best-worst/" rel="noopener"><span>costumes on Star Trek</span></a><span> were not great. </span>

Some of the Costumes Were Not Good

<span>It’s okay to admit that Captain Jean-Luc Picard was your favorite (mine was, too). Apologies if he’s not your favorite, but may I ask why not? </span>  <span>The fact is that Picard and </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092455/" rel="noopener"><span>Star Trek: The Next Generation</span></a><span> did just that. They defined the next generation of Trekkies, who have never quite overcome his stepping down.</span>  <span>Patrick Stewart brought something special to the role, and his series had a great cast, including legendary characters like Data, Deanna Troi, Worf, and Geordi.</span>  <span>This combination of actors created truly irreplaceable on-screen chemistry that was, arguably, never replicated again in the show. </span>

We Want Captain Picard Back

<span>Would you believe that there have been thirteen Star Trek movies? </span>  <span>If you have any Trekkie blood in your veins, you will have seen at least some of them, but the consensus amongst true Star Trekkies is that the TV series trumps any movie that has ever been made. </span>  <span>Many cite swearing allegiance to the traditional TV show format, while others resent Hollywood’s commercialization of the sacred franchise.</span>  <span>If we do have to pick the best Star Trek movie, though, it has to be Star Trek, filmed in 2009, with Chris Pine as the lead actor. The film managed to score well with fans, new and old alike, and it still holds a </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/star-trek-movies-ranked/" rel="noopener"><span>94% meter rating </span></a><span>with Rotten Tomatoes. </span>

Most Fans Preferred the TV Series to the Movies

<span>As you may already know, Klingon is a real language. There is an actual Klingon Institute where you can learn to speak it fluently. </span>

We Have all Tried to Speak Klingon

<span>Whether it’s the idea of traveling at the speed of light across vast galaxies, visiting different worlds with alien species, or being able to vaporize and transport across time and space, sometimes the concepts and ideas in Star Trek can get a little trippy. </span>  <span>Although we might not like to admit it, at some point, most of us have felt a little scared or provoked by some of the themes raised in Star Trek storylines. </span>  <span>The show forced us to contemplate the possibility of alternate realities, and we could be forgiven for feeling a little existential after watching Star Trek, as it confronts us with the possibility that we are not alone. </span>

Sometimes, Star Trek Was Scary

<span>Whether it was cool or not to admit it, we all loved the Star Trek theme tune of Our Time. </span>  <span>Whether it was Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Voyager, or The Next Generation, once we heard that famous theme tune music come on, Star Trekkie mode ACTIVATED.  </span>

The Theme Tune Was Awesome

<span>That’s right. Gene Roddenberry, the original creator of Star Trek, wrote the very first series with a woman as Captain Kirk’s Number One on deck (she was called Number One), played by Majel Barrett (Barrett eventually went on to marry Roddenberry).</span>  <span>However, test audiences reportedly did not like her character. They rejected the idea of a woman being in charge, with many calling her character </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.wilsonquarterly.com/quarterly/_/star-treks-underappreciated-feminist-history" rel="noopener"><span>pushy,</span></a><span> so the idea was soon dropped. </span>

Star Trek’s Original First Officer Was a Woman

<span>“Live Long, and Prosper” – Vulcan Greeting.</span>  <span>I don’t care what age you are; we have all impersonated Spock at some point. </span>  <span>With his pointy ears and dry, emotionless demeanor, we’ve all been caught trying to sound or look like the legendary character played by Leonard Nimoy.</span>

Spock Impressions

<span>The </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Universal_translator" rel="noopener"><span>Universal Translator</span></a><span> used in Star Trek now exists, and you can wear earphones that will translate what someone else says in any other language into your own. </span>  <span>Furthermore, scientists constantly make new claims that align with the Star Trek Universe. For example, NASA now asserts that time travel is possible, and astrophysicists have discovered that what they thought they knew about the Universe is seemingly no longer true. </span>  <span>Discoveries like The Fifth Force of Nature, Dark Matter, and Dark Energy have some of us thinking differently about the make-believe fantasy of Star Trek, as we now witness many discoveries within our World and Universe. </span>

Some of the Tech from the Trek Has Already Become a Reality

<span>Unfortunately, Captain Kirk and Spock developed tinnitus after a loud explosion during filming. Tinnitus is a persistent ringing and buzzing in the ears that can be a truly debilitating condition for some.  </span>  <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.theaquarian.com/2016/01/27/getting-the-shatner-treatment-an-interview-with-william-shatner/" rel="noopener"><span>William Shatner </span></a><span>even became the official spokesperson for tinnitus at one point, which both actors struggled with, particularly Shatner. </span>

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy Both Got Tinnitus

<span>It’s a gesture that all Trekkies know well, and I can guarantee that at some point, you’ve made Spock’s hand signal while saying, “Live Long and Prosper.”</span>  <span>And while you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a made-up alien greeting devised solely for the show, you’d be wrong. It’s a hand gesture used by Orthodox Jews. It represents the word Shaddai, which means God, so it seems that Trekkies may have been blessing each other without knowing for decades.</span>

Spock’s Vulcan Salute is a Special Blessing in Hebrew

<span>That’s right. Star Trek wasn’t only good at reusing sets to save on the budget; it was known for reusing certain actors and reinventing them into new characters.</span>  <span>Mark Lenard is famous for being the only actor ever to have played multiple alien species on Star Trek: a Klingon, a Romulan, and a Vulcan.  </span>  <span>In the original series’ first season, the actor played a Romulan Commander, but he returned a year later as Spock’s Vulcan father, Sarek. </span>

Star Trek Didn’t Only Recycle its Sets; It Also Recycled Actors

<span>Although some might not want to admit it, Star Trek inspired thirteen movies, multiple spin-off series, and over 125 computer games. Many would agree that the original brand of Star Trek has become exploited and over-commercialized in an attempt to appeal to the masses.</span>  <span>Many OG fans of the show feel disappointed as they have had to watch what was a genius, and the original concept has become diluted and exploited by the commercial vultures of Hollywood.</span>

The Star Trek Brand Has Become Over-Commercialized

<span>When you think back to the TV shows of the past, it’s hard to believe that some of them ever got the green light. At the time, they were beloved, and they defined generations. But let’s face it – times have changed, and several of them wouldn’t even make it past the pitch meeting today. Let’s look at 18 great TV shows that, for various reasons, just wouldn’t fly today.</span>

18 Formerly Beloved TV Shows That Would Flunk the Political Correctness Test Today

<span>Over the past decade, cinema has completely changed, thanks in part to filmmakers daring enough to tackle issues head-on. These “woke movies” have led to conversations and controversy. For some, these movies represent everything wrong with today’s media landscape, while for others, they’re talking about things we need to address. No matter your opinion of them, here are 18 of the wokest films from the last decade.</span>

18 Films That Went Too Woke in the Last Decade

<p>We’ve all watched those movies where we ask ourselves, “What did I just watch? Did anything really happen?” Whether you find these movies meditative or meandering, they’ve got a special place in cinematic history. So, for all you guys who’ve ever zoned out during a film and wondered, “Was it just me?” here’s a list to make you feel seen.</p>

Empty Screens: 18 Movies Where Almost Nothing Really Happens

More for You

Harvard psychologist shares 6 toxic things 'highly narcissistic' people always do in relationships: 'Don't be fooled'

Harvard psychologist shares 5 toxic things 'highly narcissistic' people always do in relationships

Anti-Israel agitators construct an encampment on Columbia University’s campus

Ex-Columbia law professor says school may have ‘unwittingly’ fended off class action suits with hybrid move

Average US annual salary by age revealed – see how you compare

Average US annual salary by age revealed – see how you compare

Shroomami Burger

You Won't Even Miss The Meat In This Flavorful Shroomami Burger

29 foods that are poisonous to dogs

29 common human foods you may not realize are poisonous to your dog

Fargo's Fight Through COVID

Popular Beer Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Do I have to pay my spouse's debts when they die?

Do I have to pay off my spouse's debts when they die? Here's what you're responsible for and what you aren't after a loved one's death

A woman thought her tattoos were why she was rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

A woman said her tattoos got her rejected for a job, but experts say personality is far more important

The best PS5 SSDs

The best PS5 SSDs

Genshin Impact: Praetorian Golem Locations

Genshin Impact: Praetorian Golem Locations

Emma Flint smiling

I'm abrosexual - it took me 30 years to realise

Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

We've studied over 30,000 couples—here are 6 phrases you'll hear in the most successful relationships

If you and your partner use any of these 5 phrases regularly, your relationship is stronger than most

10 of the most expensive states to live in

The most expensive state to live in isn't California or New York, based on data. Here are the top 10.

2024’s Canceled Shows, for Your Final Consideration

2024’s Canceled Shows, for Your Final Consideration

People Who Don’t Show Empathy Usually Have These 18 Traits

People Who Don’t Show Empathy Usually Have These 18 Traits

You've got access to a wealth of games on your smartphone.

How to use emulators to play retro video games on your phone

The

Spacecraft spots "spiders" scattered across surface of Mars

(iStock)

Marriage counsellor shares one sign your relationship is really over

Genshin Impact: Where His Life Lies Quest Guide (In Those Ruins Of Dreams Achievement)

Genshin Impact: Where His Life Lies Quest Guide (In Those Ruins Of Dreams Achievement)

IMAGES

  1. Kosinski

    star trek kosinski rank

  2. Rank and insignia from Star Trek ( all movies & series )

    star trek kosinski rank

  3. Star Trek Rank Insignia

    star trek kosinski rank

  4. Another rank and badge insignia display for Star Trek

    star trek kosinski rank

  5. Star Trek Rank Insignia and Combadges Digital Download

    star trek kosinski rank

  6. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    star trek kosinski rank

VIDEO

  1. Tron: Legacy

  2. When The Captain Isn't A Captain

  3. Scientifically Proving Star Wars is MORE Advanced Than Star Trek

  4. S3 E4: Ranking Star Trek films

  5. Episode 11: "Carbon Creek", Star Trek films ranked, and another classic Ged story!

  6. Star Trek Movies: Worst To Best!

COMMENTS

  1. Kosinski

    The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 37), makes light of this peculiarity as well, noting, "while Kosinski's unexplained square rank pip was never seen again.'" Apocrypha [] Kosinski was given the first name Stanley in The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko. The novel explains that his insignia indicates that he attended the ...

  2. Starfleet ranks

    The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (2nd ed., p. 37), makes light of this peculiarity as well, noting, "Kosinski's unexplained square rank pip was never seen again." In Star Trek Online , this insignia is used to denote specialists, additional black rectangles indicating higher ranks.

  3. Star Trek's Ranks In Order: How Starfleet Officers Get Promoted

    A promotion in Star Trek is usually a reward for exceptional performance, with many Starfleet officers being promoted in response to the valor and bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. Sometimes, a field promotion can also be handed to Starfleet officers in exceptional circumstances, such as with the Maquis officers in Star Trek: Voyager or ...

  4. Kosinski

    Heck, Christopher even got rank braid appropriate for his USAF Captain rank (that is, the single braid of Starfleet Lieutenant). Perhaps Kosinski wasn't quite civilian, but not Starfleet, either - so he got to wear the uniform and a rank pin matching his rank in the non-Starfleet service he came from. But this time, the pin was shaped slightly ...

  5. Rank of "deputy director" and Kosinski's rank in TNG

    However, naval and Star Trek tradition provide that a Captain is the sole authority on a ship. Regardless of the visiting dignitary, scientist, or admiral, a ship is commanded by her Captain and the safety of the ship is his paramount concern. ... Let's not forget, Kosinski's rank pips weren't the only oddity--he also wore a uniform with no ...

  6. Every Starfleet Rank In Star Trek, Explained

    Star Trek Ranks, Explained. Though primarily peaceful, Starfleet follows a quasi-military protocol, which means a chain of command that ensures all runs smoothly. Starting with the original series, Star Trek has adopted a quasi-military series of ranks and protocols for its characters. Starfleet is ostensibly a peaceful organization dedicated ...

  7. Kosinski scale

    The Kosinski scale was the proposed name of a new measurement of a starship's velocity. This was suggested in 2364 as a result of experimental modifications made to the warp drive of the USS Enterprise-D. The modifications resulted in the ship traveling to the galaxy known as M-33, over 2,700,000 light years away from the Milky Way Galaxy in a very brief amount of time. After the purported ...

  8. Stanley Kosinski

    Stanley Kosinski (alt. "Kozinski") was a 24th century Human man, a Starfleet propulsion expert in the 2360s decade. He held the rank of specialist. Kosinski is referred to as Kozinski in the ST novel: A Time for War, A Time for Peace, where he was referenced as a "small-minded fool". Kosinski attended the Starfleet Technical Services Academy on Mars. (DS9 novel: The Autobiography of Benjamin ...

  9. star trek

    Futher, Mr. Kosinski is called "Mister Kosinski" consistently. This is the normal mode of address for both 19th Century warrants and for current US Naval and Coast Guard Warrant Officers. Evidence in Licensed Properties. FASA, in their Star Trek Roleplaying Game, included two grades of Warrant Officers. They did not include them for the Movie Era.

  10. Starfleet Ranks

    Starfleet Ranks represent the basic organizational structure of Starfleet, with a grade and insignia for everyone ranging from the Commander-in-Chief herself to the lowest-ranking crewmen.Though a non-military exploratory, defensive, and humanitarian organization, Starfleet uses a hierarchy derived from the space fleets of the Federation's members, which is heavily influenced by the United ...

  11. Voyager and the Pips: Starfleet Ranks in the Delta Quadrant

    Fictional centuries — and real-time decades — may separate all of the Star Trek incarnations, but there is a consistency in how Starfleet ranks are shown from the 22nd to the 24th centuries. Star Trek: Voyager's premiere in 1995 introduced new characters, new aliens, and new worlds, but still showed the familiar Starfleet rank insignia ...

  12. How To Tell A Star Trek Character's Rank At A Glance: Rank Pips

    To command a starship, one typically has to bear the rank of captain, as we know from Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Freeman, Pike, etc. Although it is not a requirement, a starship's first ...

  13. Coming Soon

    If you think there should be something here, please reach out for support.

  14. Kosinski

    Forums > Star Trek Series | 2364 - 2378 > Star Trek: The Next Generation > Kosinski - rank pins and combadge mystery. Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by RapidNadion, Dec 11, 2009. Page 2 of 2 < Prev 1 2. CoveTom Rear Admiral Rear Admiral. Joined: Jul 17, 2003 Location:

  15. Why doesn't Kosinski wear a Commbadge when he's on the ...

    In "Where No Man Has Gone Before", Kosinski appears in a Starfleet uniform with no communicator and does not appear to have a Starfleet rank, as he is referred to throughout the episode as "Mr. Kosinski". His collar features a unique rank insignia: a small silver rectangle, and a darker rectangle of the same size.

  16. Wikipedia:WikiProject Star Trek/Comparative ranks and insignia of Star

    Comparative ranks and insignia of Star Trek are hierarchical titles and badges of office which appear in the science fiction universe of Star Trek presented here in a comparative manner. The ranks and insignia of Starfleet are based on the historic titles used by the United States Navy. Comparison table

  17. Stanley Kamel

    Stanley Kamel (1 January 1943 - 8 April 2008; age 65) was a prolific character actor with over eighty television appearances to his credit during his forty-year career, including his role as Kosinski in the Star Trek: The Next Generation first season episode "Where No One Has Gone Before". Hailing from New Brunswick, New Jersey, Kamel died of a heart attack in his Hollywood Hills home on 8 ...

  18. TNG: S1

    Starfleet and all the beings in the galaxy were not as mighty as they thought they were. Q, aside, others lived on a level that was almost beyond human comprehension. Interesting that "Where No One Has Gone Before" was about exploration, while " Where No Man Has Gone Before " was about battle, death, and strength. It seems that Trek ...

  19. Star Trek: Discovery

    The Branch Admiral rank was detailed in the FASA Star Trek RPG's TNG Officer's Manual, and was a new rank to extend Admiral's rank and privileges to non-Command division positions like the Starfleet Surgeon General, or other divisions like Security or Engineering, or the Inspector General's Office. This was to give them the requisite ...

  20. What's your personal ranking of the Star Trek shows from most favorite

    TNG - it's just charming. It's the show that best showcases the ideals behind Star Trek. VOY - not as charming as TNG, but still very charming. Exploration, new worlds, new phenomena all the time and the Doctor, funniest dude in all of Trek. SNW - Anson Mount as Pike is the best casting choice in Trek right after Patrick Stewart as Picard.

  21. What Is A Chief Petty Officer? Miles O'Brien's Rank In Star Trek Explained

    As confirmed in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 2, "Family", Miles O'Brien is a Chief Petty Officer.Like Starfleet's other ranks, the Chief Petty Officer has its origins in the ...

  22. Specialist

    A specialist was any highly-trained individual or expert who worked as a professional in a particular field of study. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command", "First Contact") Only certain key Starfleet specialists were allowed to handle stasis boxes. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon") In 2256, Captain Gabriel Lorca invited Michael Burnham, stripped of rank after a court martial, to join the bridge crew of USS ...

  23. Katherine Pulaski

    Rank. Commander. Dr. Katherine Pulaski is a fictional medical doctor in the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. She served a rotation as the chief medical officer aboard the Federation starship USS Enterprise -D. During her time on the ship, her medical skills saved the lives of both Captain Jean-Luc ...

  24. 21 Things About Star Trek That Fans Hesitate to Acknowledge

    In 1995, Captain Janeway took over our screens as the first female lead of Star Trek Voyager, boldly going where no man (or woman) had gone before.There was a massive backlash from fans and the ...