Deanna's rank

[Uncle Sock]

First off, I absolutely love Deanna. She’s one of my favorite characters in Star Trek, and it’s a shame she didn’t get proper development until later on. So this isn’t a “she shouldn’t be there” post—I’m genuinely curious about something that’s always felt a little inconsistent to me.

How did Deanna end up as a lieutenant commander in Encounter at Farpoint aside from the obvious fact that she was amazing at her job? If we compare her to real-world career tracks, what would her résumé even look like? Bashir, for example, starts DS9 as a lieutenant (j.g.), and I’m not sure whether medical or counseling officers are supposed to begin as ensigns or come in at a higher rank. Even Ezri was promoted immediately to lieutenant junior grade after Sisko convinced Starfleet Medical to waive the rest of her training.

By that logic, if she graduated from Starfleet Academy, she’d presumably come out as at least a lieutenant junior grade. So how did she move from that to lieutenant commander so quickly? And then there’s Thine Own Self, where Deanna tells Beverly that she “doesn’t need the rank” to be a doctor. So what’s the actual logic here? If doctors and counselors don’t need rank to do their jobs, why does Deanna hold such a senior one? Again - we're not criticizing her skills and we're not saying she doesn't deserve the rank.

And here's another thing: lieutenant commander is not a junior rank. Yet in Farpoint she’s only 28. Is that a normal age for someone at that level in Starfleet, or was she supposed to be some kind of early-career standout?

Anyway—those are my questions. I’m curious how you all interpret this!

(Coincidentally, I just realized I'm a lieutenant commander myself here. )

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Maybe she posted often enough to her own forum (published psychological journal articles, in her case).

 

[fireproof78]

And here's another thing: lieutenant commander is not a junior rank. Yet in Farpoint she’s only 28. Is that a normal age for someone at that level in Starfleet, or was she supposed to be some kind of early-career standout?

The vast majority of the TNG crew were to be standouts, exceptional people who had risen quickly in their fields.

Now, as to the basic questions we have limited comparison material. Dr. Noel in TOS was a psychiatrist, yet her rank is not indicated and Memory Alpha assumes it's an enlisted rating (odd but ok ).

If Deanna carries a Master's Degree in her field (counseling or similar) then she'll likely come in to Starfleet as a lieutenant j.g. at least, if not higher depending on her time in her field and experience, based upon real world armed services. She could easily have her degree by 22 and then serve in STARFLEET from then on, 5 years in service and rising two ranks. Fast, but not entirely impossible especially if she has had her commanding officer's recommendation or possible nepotism.