But that was not her real job so it really doesn't count.
What about Nog flying the ship while wearing gold? In fact, did any of the helmsmen on the Defiant ever wear red? Only one I can think of is the helmsman for its scene in First Contact.
I think Defiant is a super bad example for this, because it was really not a normally operating starship, but an auxiliary to DS9. Dax, Nog and rest of the crew had their main jobs on DS9, and their divisions are based on those.
Both Mitchell and Kelso are Ops technically, and technically both Tyler and Una are Command. Pretty sure in general every Starfleet officer and even some enlisted are rated to man both Helm/Conn ala Chief DiFalco.
How about the Valiant then, which was an operating starship piloted by a goldshirt.
Dunno. It shouldn't. Temporary assignment? (Also, are you sure, that's the pilot? Not OPS or tactical?)
Yes, the Valiant's captain even gives him course instructions and even addressed those orders to "helm" and that goldshirt says "aye sir." In fact, here's the transcript:
If he's not the helmsman, why's he answering all the instructions for the helmsman?
Well, no, he appears to be the alpha shift helmsman given he takes over the helm whenever the ship goes on red alert. I'd also argue against a costuming error since he also seems to double as a security officer, indeed he's the one who arrests Jake later on in the episode when the Valiant's captain stops liking him.
Ok, that's the explanation then! His shirt colour is based on his job as a security officer!
