How Many Captains Per Starship?

[J.T.B.]

Examples of restricted line officers include: supply officers, medical officers, nurses, civil engineering duty officers, intelligence officers.

Medical officers, chaplains, civil engineers, supply officers and lawyers are staff corps officers. "Restricted line" are basically specialized officers who cannot command like line officers, but don't fit into an established staff corps: Engineering duty only, public affairs, intelligence, meteorology, crypto, HR etc. Navy lawyers used to be restricted line until 1967 when the JAG Corps was established.

As an addendum to my post above this one, it IS possible in the Navy for restricted line officers to command shore installations. A buddy of mine (an O-6 supply officer) just came back from being the commanding officer of naval supply activities in Yokosuka, Japan. But commanding a shore-based supply installation is about the limit of his command authority- if he was visiting a carrier at sea and something wiped out every O-6 on board except him, he would still not be allowed to take command because he is not in the unrestricted line of command.

And of course Civil Engineer Corps officers command Seabee units. That was the first exception granted to the "only line officers can command" policy back in WW2, and the first and only four-star staff corps admiral was a CEC officer.

But, yeah, none of that really applies to Star Trek most of the time. One thing I liked in TOS was when the almost-unknown Lt. De Salle took command, apparently just because he was the next senior officer.

 

[NaughtyTrekkie]

In the US Navy, for example, there could be a BUNCH of Captains (by rank) on one ship.

The military has a chain of command that's not connected solely to the rank one wears on their collar.

For example, I was on the USS Nimitz from 1995 to 1999.

My Commanding Officer was a Captain.
My Executive Officer was a Captain.
My Reactor Officer was a Captain.
My Senior Medical Officer was a Captain.
The Commander of the Air Wing was a Captain.

No one was confused about who had authority over who and when.

doesn't Navy have different kind of captain? The air wing commander was in the navy or in the air force?

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Medical officers, chaplains, civil engineers, supply officers and lawyers are staff corps officers. "Restricted line" are basically specialized officers who cannot command like line officers, but don't fit into an established staff corps: Engineering duty only, public affairs, intelligence, meteorology, crypto, HR etc. Navy lawyers used to be restricted line until 1967 when the JAG Corps was established.



And of course Civil Engineer Corps officers command Seabee units. That was the first exception granted to the "only line officers can command" policy back in WW2, and the first and only four-star staff corps admiral was a CEC officer.

But, yeah, none of that really applies to Star Trek most of the time. One thing I liked in TOS was when the almost-unknown Lt. De Salle took command, apparently just because he was the next senior officer.

True, although logically I would have thought that Uhura - as a Department Head qualified to pilot the ship - would have been ahead of the Assistant Chief Engineer in the chain of command (probably Fourth Officer after Sulu).

 

[J.T.B.]

doesn't Navy have different kind of captain? The air wing commander was in the navy or in the air force?

The air wing commander is Navy. The US Navy kept its air force; the Army's outgrew it and became the USAF.

True, although logically I would have thought that Uhura - as a Department Head qualified to pilot the ship - would have been ahead of the Assistant Chief Engineer in the chain of command (probably Fourth Officer after Sulu).

Why would that be more logical? Just because he doesn't work on the bridge doesn't mean DeSalle can't be senior to Uhura. That's why I liked it, it was like a glimpse at some of the other 400-plus people aboard, rather than having the same players doing the important stuff all the time.

I do wonder what happened to the lieutenant commander navigator from "The Alternative Factor," though. And there were a background Cdr and LCdr in "The Enterprise Incident." For some reason, all the interesting stuff seems to happen when more senior line officers are not available.

 

[Chaos Descending]

doesn't Navy have different kind of captain? The air wing commander was in the navy or in the air force?

All of the air wing personnel are either Navy or Marine Corps. None are Air Force.

In the Navy, the rank of "Captain" is equivalent to a "Colonel" in the Army, Marines, and Air Force.

An Army, Marine, or Air Force "Captain", is equivalent to a "Lieutenant" in the Navy.

 

[NaughtyTrekkie]

All of the air wing personnel are either Navy or Marine Corps. None are Air Force.

In the Navy, the rank of "Captain" is equivalent to a "Colonel" in the Army, Marines, and Air Force.

An Army, Marine, or Air Force "Captain", is equivalent to a "Lieutenant" in the Navy.

what a confusion

 

[Chaos Descending]

It's very easy, actually.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Should Security Officer Giotto (TOS: Devil in the Dark), Tactical/Armory Officer Lang (TOS: Arena), Records Officer Finney (TOS: Court Martial) or Astrobiologist Mulhall (TOS: Return to Tomorrow) all Lieutenant Commanders be ahead of Helmsman Sulu in the chain-of-command?

 

[J.T.B.]

^ A line lieutenant commander should succeed to command ahead of any lieutenant.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

So probably not Mulhall, maybe Finney, but Giotto and Lang should have been Third and Fourth (or even Second and Fourth as Giotto looks like he probably has time in service on Scotty and CHEng doesn't AFAIK outrank SECO inherently?

 

[Jedi Marso]

Trek was notoriously bad about this. There were numerous times Kirk turned the bridge over to ENSIGN Chekov when there was a lieutenant sitting at the helm. There was no rhyme or reason to it- pure hollywood.

 

[Phoenix219]

I think the only on screen mentions of Uhura and Chekov's rank was Commander. Based on at least her comments in ST III it might be assumed that Uhura intended to wind down her career and peacefully retire at that rank. Of course that could also be subterfuge for the benefit of "Mr. Excitement".

I know its just a fan film, but since it stars Nichelle's, I consider the movie Gods and Men as canon, and am quite happy with the ending and rank it gave Uhura.

 

[Nebusj]

Trek was notoriously bad about this. There were numerous times Kirk turned the bridge over to ENSIGN Chekov when there was a lieutenant sitting at the helm. There was no rhyme or reason to it- pure hollywood.

By 'numerous' I think you mean 'one'. And in that case Kirk was almost literally dying and had to pass command on to any line officer immediately.

 

[lawman]

So, say a missile hits the ship right in the wardroom at lunchtime and kills every officer on board except the OOD (an O-3), the conning officer (O-1), the doc (O-5), and the aviation detachment officer in charge. (O-4). Who is in command of the ship?

ANS: The aviation detachment officer in charge. Why? He/she is the senior surviving unrestricted line officer aboard. But what about the CMO, who is an O-5? He/she is NOT ELIGIBLE to assume command because he is not in line of command. This is because as a doctor, he is a restricted line officer.

But, you say, what about the O-3 OOD, who is a surface warfare officer (unrestricted line) and more qualified than a helicopter pilot to command the ship? Doesn't matter.

Interesting example, but forgive me for having to ask... what the heck is an OOD? You don't define the term at all. (For that matter, I would never have guessed that "aviation detachment officer" = "helicopter pilot" if you hadn't said so.)

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Interesting example, but forgive me for having to ask... what the heck is an OOD? You don't define the term at all. (For that matter, I would never have guessed that "aviation detachment officer" = "helicopter pilot" if you hadn't said so.)

Could be either Officer of the Deck (the Command-rated officer assigned to the bridge who is responsible for safe navigation of the vessel and responding to other emergency situations as required) or the Officer of the Day/Duty Officer (the supervisor of the watchstanders, inspector of auxiliary facitiies, may also act as Security/Incident Officer as the CO's representitive).

Based on context, I'd assume the former. Starfleet refers to these variously as the Duty Officer (see TNG: Disaster), "having the bridge" or "having the CONN" (somewhat confusing as in the RW this would refer to either the Helmsman(s) operating the ships helm(s) or the Junior OOD/conning officer directing them (apart from "having the conn" Starfleet appears to combine JOOD and Helmsman (and navigator) into one position). TrekLit has started to use the term Officer of the Watch recently to describe the same or similar role.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Interesting example, but forgive me for having to ask... what the heck is an OOD? You don't define the term at all. (For that matter, I would never have guessed that "aviation detachment officer" = "helicopter pilot" if you hadn't said so.)

Sorry OOD = Officer of the Deck in this case.

Aboard frigates, destroyers, and cruisers that are helo-capable, there is usually an 'aviation detachment' aboard when the ship is deployed, consisting of 1-2 helicopters and the appropriate number of pilots, crew chiefs, and maintenance personnel. The senior officer of the detachment is referred to as the 'Det OIC' meaning 'detachment officer in charge.' Usually a lieutenant (O-3) or a lieutenant commander. (O-4)

 

[Admiral Brand]

My understanding of the chain of command of the senior staff onboard Enterprise-A on the conclusion of ST6 is:
Captain Kirk (Commanding Officer)
Captain Spock (XO)
Captain Scott (Chief Engineer/2nd Officer)
Commander Chekov (Nav)
Commander Uhura (Comms)
Commander McCoy (Chief Med)

A few points:
Enterprise-A is decommissioned shortly after Khittomer and senior crew retired.
A newly-retired Kirk appears as a guest at maiden voyage of Enterprise-B in STG soon after (along with Scott & Chekov), I find it difficult to believe Starfleet would not have retired Kirk as an Admiral in time for this launch as a mark of appreciation considering his contribution to the Federation.

Captain Scott's promotion seemed to be dependant on his reassignment to the Excelsior and not necessarily a regular promotion. His insubordination in ST3 and subsequent reassignment to the new Enterprise-A in ST5 would surely have seen the promotion withdrawn and revert back to Commander?
Starfleet databases seemed to recognise Scott as a Commander during the NCC-1701 auto-destruct sequence in ST3 despite his recent promotion, leading me to think it was exclusive rank to the Excelsior.
Although, hence he is referred to as Captain during TNG 'Relics' which could have been as a result of a further subsequent promotion.

McCoy is an Admiral in the TNG pilot with no record of him ever being a Captain, which I think may have been as a result of a ceremonial promotion, post Khittomer and retirement, again as a mark of respect and appreciation with perhaps an honorary position at Starfleet Medical.

Uhura & Chekov are considerably younger than the 'Captains' and perhaps did not immediately retire and progressed to higher ranks later in their career, the non-canonical 'Renegages' describes Chekov as an Admiral within Starfleet intelligence, so I would imagine Uhura was also promoted and I would imagine took up a teaching assignment at the Academy.

 

[Phoenix219]

The also non-canon "Gods and Men" gives Uhura a quite satisfactory ending and rank, but its been awhile so I don't want to misspeak. I consider them both canon endings for the characters.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Commander McCoy (Chief Med)

I don't think McCoy is in the Chain of Command

McCoy is an Admiral in the TNG pilot with no record of him ever being a Captain, which I think may have been as a result of a ceremonial promotion, post Khittomer and retirement, again as a mark of respect and appreciation with perhaps an honorary position at Starfleet Medical.

Why would there need to be a record of McCoy being a Captain for his Admiral rank to be to be real?