So, here's the Navy's newest destroyer.... http://www.businessinsider.com/zumwalt-destroyer-navy-2013-10 However, this is the funny part. Check out the name of the Captain / current prospective commanding officer.... http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg1000/Pages/bio1.aspx#.UnF_NxAlgnZ
Canon violation!!! Everyone knows Captain Kirk's only acceptable middle initials are "T" and "R." I can't imagine how anyone could associate T&A with Captain Kirk. Its commissioning is a bit of a ways off and a pretty different requirement from commanding destroyers, but it would be awesome if he got command of the next Enterprise. Make it happen, US Navy.
I wonder what his career has been like. Has he been aiming for captain his whole time in service? Is he angling for command of an Enterprise? Does he have a Spock or a Scott in his command?
That will so never happen. They haven't sent 45 year old black shoe captains to flight school since about 1930. In 12 years he will probably be too senior to even fly his flag in her. They should have started planning all this around the time Star Trek VI came out. I think that's pretty safe to assume. On the way to admiral, anyway. Kind of funny to see an O-6 commanding a "destroyer." I know it's huge, but only about 150 crew.
According to internet sources, there are over 1000 people named James Kirk in the U.S. It's not surprising that at least one of them is a Navy captain. Maybe there's a Capt. James Kirk in the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps as well. Or in a local police department somewhere.
The USS Zumwalt: I imagine some drunken old salt strolling by and saying, "The Navy must be crazy nowadays. They're building upside-down ships!"
When I served in the Air Force, I knew a Captain Kirk. I also knew a Major Battle and when he was promoted to Lt. Colonel Battle it just wasn't the same.
The question is, how many of the parents of those 1000 James Kirks actually named them James because they are Star Trek fans?
I think it would be great just to be able to say "This is Captain James Kirk - commanding the USS Zumwalt". I wish him and the ship much success.