Ship Positions (by department)

These are some positions that may be found on a starship or station. While some are formal billets, others are collateral duties.

Command

Commanding Officer

Ultimately responsible for the ship and crew, the Commanding Officer is the most senior officer aboard a vessel. They are responsible for carrying out the orders of Star Fleet, and for representing both Star Fleet and the Federation.

Executive/First Officer

The liaison between captain and crew, the Executive Officer acts as the disciplinarian, personnel manager, advisor to the captain, and much more. They are also one of only two officers, along with the Chief Medical Officer, that can remove a Commanding Officer from duty.

Second Officer (collateral)

At times, the XO must assume command of a starship or base; when this happens, the XO needs the help of another officer to assume his/her role as XO. The second officer is not a formal billet, but a collateral duty of the next-highest ranked officer aboard, unless otherwise appointed. When required, the Second Officer will assume the role of acting XO.

Intelligence Officer

On all starships and starbases, a single individual among the command staff is designated the Intelligence Officer for the command. Responsible for liaising with Star Fleet Intelligence on a daily basis, the Intelligence Officer reads numerous classified reports as forwarded to them, and makes the decision on which reports are relevant to the commanding officer or other concerned positions. They are responsible for providing operational knowledge for mission briefings and act as a conduit from the command staff to SFI. The role of Intelligence Officer is considered a collateral duty within smaller commands and, in that role, reports directly to the Executive Officer.

Diplomatic Officer (collateral)

The Diplomatic Officer of each vessel/base must be familiar with a variety of areas: history, religion, politics, economics, and military and understand how they affect potential threats. A wide range of incidents can arise, based upon these areas and threats. These operations occur within three general states of being: peacetime competition, conflict, and war. They must be equally flexible and demonstrate initiative, agility, depth, synchronization, and improvisation in order to provide responsive legal services to their Commanding Officer, aiding in official functions as prescribed by protocol, performing administrative duties, and other tasks as directed, as well as diplomatic advice on current status of an alien species, both aligned and non-aligned to the Federation. This position is a collateral duty in all but the largest commands and reports directly to the Executive Officer.

Media Relations Officer (collateral)

The Media Relations Officer's duties consist of keeping the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer informed of all relevant media stories, dealing with the press on a daily basis, creating and issuing mission statements, conducting personal interviews, and answering questions from the media. They report directly to the Executive Officer.

Mission Advisor

The Mission Advisor is (generally) a guest specialist that advises the Commanding Officer on mission-specific areas of importance. Many times, the Mission Advisor knows just as much about the overall mission as the CO and XO do. They may also perform mission-specific tasks and can take on any specific roles that a mission requires. They report directly to the Executive Officer.

Command Chief

The senior-most Chief Petty Officer (to include Master and Senior Chiefs), regardless of rating, is designated by the Commanding Officer as the Command Chief/Senior Chief/Master Chief. In addition to his or her departmental responsibilities, the Command Chief performs the following duties: serves as a liaison between the Commanding Officer (or Executive Officer) and the enlisted crewmen; ensures enlisted crew understands Command policies; advises the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer regarding enlisted morale, and evaluates the quality of noncommissioned officer leadership, management, and supervisory training. They work with the other department heads, chiefs, supervisors, and crewmen to insure discipline is equitably maintained, and the welfare, morale, and health needs of the enlisted personnel are met.

Yeoman

The Captain's Yeoman is a position for petty officers intending to continue as administrators. Use of this position is completely at the discretion of the Commanding Officer. File work and sensitive message transport are two examples of the Yeoman's duties. The Yeoman assists the CO in day-to-day duties that the CO would otherwise not have the time to do.

Operations

Chief Operations Officer

The Chief Operations Officer oversees the Operations department and is a member of the senior staff. The Chief Operations Officer has the primary responsibility of ensuring that ship functions, such as the use of the lateral sensor array, do not interfere with one and another.They must prioritize resource allocations, so that the most critical activities can have every chance of success. If so required, they can curtail shipboard functions if they think they will interfere with the ship's current mission or routine operations.

Assistant Chief Operations Officer

The Assistant Chief Operations Officer is the second-in-command of the Operations Department and can assume the role of acting Chief Operations Officer on a temporary or permanent basis.

Operations Officer(s)

Personnel are needed to maintain ship operations. The Operations Officers are assistants to the Chief and assume the Operations consoles on rotational duty shifts. They report to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Shuttlebay Manager

The Shuttlebay Manager is responsible for pre- and post-flight checks of all shuttlecraft involved in away missions. Once a shuttlecraft has been brought to the flight line, it is their duty to ensure that it is mission-capable. Upon returning from a mission, they must inspect the shuttlecraft and prepare a report on any maintenance that is required. They are also responsible for the placement of shuttlecraft, in order to allow for maximum efficiency of the shuttlebay. The Shuttlebay Manager reports to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Chief Shuttlecraft Pilot

The Chief Shuttlecraft Pilot supervises the shuttlecraft pilots and reports to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Shuttlecraft Pilot

All small spacecraft aboard a starship, starbase, or a facility (shuttles, runabouts, transports, captain's yacht, etc.), excluding fighters, are flown by Shuttlecraft Pilots. This is often the proving ground for pilots until they earn a berth on a starship as a Helmsman. They report to the Chief Shuttlecraft Pilot.

Chief Helmsman

The Chief Helmsman is the senior most Conn Officer aboard, serving as the chief of the personnel under him/her and reporting to the Chief Operations Officer (they are equal in seniority to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer).

Assistant Chief Helmsman

The Assistant Chief Helmsman is the second senior most Conn Officer and reports directly to the Chief Helmsman.

Helmsman

Originally know as helm, or Flight Control Officer, Conn incorporates two jobs, navigation and flight control. A Helmsman must always be present on the bridge of a starship and every vessel has a number of Helmsmen to allow shift rotations. They plots courses, oversees the computer's piloting, correct any flight deviations, and pilot the ship manually when needed. Helmsmen report to the Assistant Chief Helmsman.

Supply Officer

The Supply Officer specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to personnel aboard the vessel. In addition, the Supply Officer controls all physical assignments to quarters throughout the vessel. They report to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Chief Boatswain

Each vessel and base has one Warrant Officer (or Chief Warrant Officer) who holds the position of Chief Boatswain. The Boatswain (pronounced and also written "Bosun" or "Bos'n") trains and supervises personnel in general ship and base operations, repairs, and protocols; maintains duty assignments for all Operations personnel; sets the agenda for instruction in general ship and base operations; supervises auxiliary and utility service personnel and daily ship or base maintenance; coordinates all personnel cross-trained in damage control operations and supervises damage control and emergency operations; may assume any Bridge or Operations role as required; and is qualified to temporarily act at Operations if so ordered. The Chief Boatswain reports to the Assistant Chief Operations Officer.

Boatswain(s): Boatswains handle general operations of equipment, conduct general maintenance and repairs, and perform traditional acts of protocol. They also act as auxiliary and utility service personnel, conduct and train in damage control and emergency operations. They sometimes cross-train on bridge and other Operations roles. They report to the Chief Boatswain.

Engineering

Chief Engineer

The Chief Engineer is responsible for the condition of all systems and equipment on board a Star Fleet ship or facility and is a member of the senior staff. They oversee maintenance, repairs, and upgrades of all equipment. They are also responsible for the many repair teams during crisis situations. The Chief Engineer is a senior officer, responsible for all the crew members in their department and maintenance of the duty rosters.

Assistant Chief Engineer

The Assistant Chief Engineer assists the Chief Engineer in the daily work; in issues regarding mechanical, administrative matters, and coordinating repairs with other departments. The Assistant Chief Engineer must be able to take over as acting Chief Engineer and must be versed in the current technical status regarding the ship or facility.

Engineering Officers

Engineers are the backbone of the Engineering Corps and are responsible for maintaining and repairing the vessel. They supervise divisions within Engineering:

Communications Specialist

The Communications Specialist is a specialized engineering officer. Communication aboard a ship or facility takes two basic forms: voice and data. Both are handled by the onboard computer systems and dedicated hardware. The vastness and complexity of this system requires a dedicated division to maintain the system. The Communications Specialist is the officer in charge of this division, which is comprised of NCO personnel. The Communications Specialist reports to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Computer Systems Specialist

The Computer Systems Specialist is a specialized engineering officer. The current generation of computer systems need high levels of oversight and maintenance, which is provided by the specialist. A division is assigned to the Computer Systems Specialist, which is comprised of NCO personnel. The Computer Systems Specialist reports to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Damage Control Officer

The DCO is the engineering officer responsible for all damage control aboard the ship, whether sustained in combat or other emergency situations. They oversee all damage repair aboard the ship and coordinates repair teams on the smaller jobs, so the Chief Engineer can focus on other matters. A division is assigned to the Damage Control Officer, comprised of NCO personnel. The Damage Control Officer reports to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Matter/Energy Systems Officer

The Matter/Energy Systems Officer is the engineering officer responsible for all aspects of matter/energy transfers, such as transporter and replicator systems, with the sole exception of the warp drive systems. The Matter/Energy Systems Officer is the engineer in charge of a division, comprised of NCO personnel, and they report to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Transporter Chief

The Transporter Chief is a specialized engineering officer and responsible for all transports to and from other ships, stations, and planetary bodies. When transporting is not going on, the Transporter Chief is responsible for keeping the transporters running at peak efficiency. The division assigned to the Transporter Chief is comprised of NCO personnel. The Transporter Chief reports to the Matter/Energy Systems Specialist.

Impulse/Warp Propulsion Officers

Specializing in either impulse or warp propulsion, the Propulsion Engineers oversee the two divisions focused on operating, maintaining, and repairing the propulsion of the ship. The impulse division is also responsible for the reaction control systems, while the warp division "owns" the matter/antimatter core. The Propulsion Officers report to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Structural/Environmental Officer

The Structural and Environmental Systems Officer is the engineering officer responsible for constant monitoring of the hulls, bulkheads, walls, Jeffrey tubes, turbolifts, structural integrity field, internal dampening field, and environmental systems. The division assigned to the Structural and Environmental Systems Officer is comprised of NCO personnel. The Structural and Environmental Systems Officer reports to the Assistant Chief Engineer.

Security/Tactical

Chief of Security

The Chief Security Officer, a member of the senior staff, ensures the safety of ship and crew, including the direct protection of the Commanding and Executive Officers while on away teams. She/he is also responsible for people under arrest and the safety of guests. As a department head, they have the responsibility for all the crew members in the department and duty rosters. Often, the Chief Security Officer also serves as the Chief Tactical Officer, responsible for all shipboard weaponry and inter-ship combat.

Assistant Chief Security Officer

The Assistant Chief Security Officer (or also Deputy Security Officer) assists the Chief of Security in administering the daily departmental assignments, including issues regarding security. They can assume the lead role on a temporary or permanent basis.

Security Division Officer(s)

The Security Division Officer is a commissioned officer specialized in matters of security, both shipboard and for facilities such as starbases. Ships—based upon size—may have one or more divisions committed to the security role, each led by a Security Division Officer. They report to the Assistant Chief Security Officer.

Brig Officer(s)

The Brig Officer is a Security Officer specialized in the guarding of contained prisoners, as well as other related duties, such as prisoner transport. Brig Officers have a good knowledge of forcefield technology and are experts in escaping such confinements. They report to the Assistant Chief Security Officer (or the Brig Division Officer, if relevant).

Security Officer(s)

Security Officers generally guard sensitive areas, protect people, patrol, and handle other threats to the command. (Despite the appellation of "officer", the members of the Security division are mostly comprised of enlisted crew.) They report to the Security Division Officer.

Master-at-Arms

The Master-at-Arms trains and supervises Security members in departmental operations, repairs, and protocols; maintains duty assignments for all Security personnel; and supervises weapons locker access and firearm deployment. The Master-at-Arms reports to the Assistant Chief Security Officer.

Security Investigations Officer

The Security Investigations Officer is a billeted role of an investigator for dealing with Star Fleet security matters aboard a ship, facility, or planet. Each ship generally has only one billeted Security Investigations Officer, though the role may be assigned as a collateral duty, if the need arises. They coordinate with the Assistant Chief Security Officer and report to the Executive Officer regarding open investigations.

Assistant Chief Tactical Officer

The Assistant Chief Tactical Officer (or also Deputy Tactical Officer) assists the Chief Tactical Officer in administering the maintenance and operations of the numerous weapons systems aboard a ship/starbase and provide analytical and tactical planning for missions, both combat and other. They can assume the lead role on a temporary or permanent basis.

Tactical Division Officer(s)

The Tactical Division Officer is a commissioned officer specialized in the numerous weapons systems aboard a starship or starbase, tasked with leading the division(s) that handle the actual maintenance and operations of those systems. The larger the ship (or facility), the greater the likelihood that multiple divisions are present, divided between the differing weapon systems (e.g., phaser and torpedo) or even the individual mounts. Tactical Division Officer report to the Assistant Chief Tactical Officer.

Tactical Officers

"Tactical Officer" refers to the bridge role stood by the officer or enlisted with direct controls on the ship's (or station's) weaponry. Tactical Officers are also trained in ground combat and small unit tactics. On the bridge, they report directly to the conning officer, unless a more senior officer has tactical authority. Off-duty, they report to their division officer.

Medical

Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

The Chief Medical Officer, a member of the senior staff and a Surgeon (or Medical Officer, if no Surgeons are assigned to the command), is responsible for the physical health of the entire crew and all aspects of the medical department, such as the medical and dentistry labs and surgical suites. If necessary, the Chief Medical Officer can remove anyone from duty, even a Commanding Officer.

Assistant Chief Medical Officer

The Assistant Chief Medical Officer assists the CMO in all areas, such as administration, and application of medical care. They are often a Surgeon (or Medical Officer, if no other Surgeons are assigned to the command) tasked with this role as a collateral duty.

Chief Counselor

The Counselor is responsible both for assisting crew members with personal, psychological, and emotional problems and advising the Commanding Officer in dealing with other people and races. They report to the Assistant Chief Medical Officer.

Counselor(s)

On ships of relevant size, more than one Counselor may be necessary to attend to the crew's personal, psychological, and emotional needs. They report to the Chief Counselor.

Counselor's Aide(s)

The Counselor's Aide helps keep all the matters of the Counseling department in order. S/he assigns appointments for anyone needing them and assists the Counselors with anything that they may need. They often service the entire department, and report to the Chief Counselor. In larger facilities/starships, each Counselor may have an Aide reporting to them.

Head Nurse

The Head Nurse oversees all the Nurses aboard, ensuring they are assigned to tasks and working as required in their area. Additionally the Head Nurse performs the normal duties of a nurse, assisting the Duty Medical Officer in sickbay. They report to the Assistant Chief Medical Officer.

Nurse(s)

Nurses are trained in basic medical care and are capable of dealing with less serious medical cases. In more serious matters, the Nurse assists the Medical Officer in the examination and administration of medical care, be this injecting required drugs or simply assuring the injured party that they will be fine. The Nurses also maintain the medical wards, overseeing the patients and ensuring they are receiving medication and care, as instructed by the Duty Medical Officer. They report to the Duty Medical Officer, when on duty themselves, or to the Head Nurse in the course of their daily assignments.

Medical Officer(s)

Medical Officers undertake the majority of the medical work aboard a ship/facility, examining the crew, administering medical care (under the instruction of the CMO) and running other sections directly related to the medical field. They report to the Assistant Chief Medical Officer.

Morale Officer

The Morale Officer is responsible for keeping the morale of the crew high, generally via planned recreational activities. If any crew member is having problems, the Morale Officer can assist that crew member. They deliver regular reports on morale to the Executive Officer, but generally report directly to the Assistant Chief Medical Officer.

Surgeon

A Medical Officer, often specialized as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian, who specializes in performing surgery. They report to the Assistant Chief Medical Officer.

Science

Chief Science Officer

The Chief Science Officer, a member of the senior staff, is responsible for all the scientific data the ship/facility collects and the distribution of such data to specific sections within the department for analysis. S/he is also responsible with providing the ship's captain with scientific information needed for command decisions. S/he also is responsible for all the crew members in her/his department and duty rosters.

Assistant Chief Science Officer

The Assistant Chief Science Officer assists the Chief Science Officer in all areas, such as administration and analysis of scientific data. The Assistant often takes part in specific analysis of important data, however spends most available time overseeing current projects and their section heads.

Science Officer(s)

There are several general Science Officers aboard most vessels. They are assigned to their duties by the Chief Science Officer and the Assistant. Assignments include work for the Specialized Section heads, as well as duties for work being carried out by the Chief and Assistant Science Officers. Some represented specializations are:

Astrometrics Science Officer

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the Astrometrics section. This role entails the maintaining, correction, and production of new stellar charts. They have close ties with the Physics section. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Stellar Cartographer

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the Stellar Cartography section. This role entails the charting of all spatial phenomenon and the resulting influences upon a region. They have close ties with the Physics section. Reports to the Astrometrics Science Officer.

Biologist

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the Biology section. This role entails the study of biology, botany, zoology, and many more life sciences. On larger ships, there many be a number of Science Officers within this section, under the lead of the Head Biologist. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Historian

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the History section. This role involves the study of the past as it is described in primary sources, such as written documents. History is commonly associated with both the social sciences and the humanities disciplines and relates to past events, as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events. The Historian has close ties with the Xeno Culture section. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Language Specialist

The specialized Communications Officer in charge of the Linguistics section. This role involves the study of new and old languages and text, in an attempt to better understand and interpret their meaning. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer (and works closely with the Communications division).

Translation Specialist(s)

The Translation Specialist is a person capable of translating written and spoken languages in real-time. They often have roles as interpreters or mediators, due to their extensive linguistic capabilities. These individuals are adept at using various decryption techniques to aid in the deciphering of uncommon language types. Star Fleet Translation Specialists are qualified to undertake any tasks that could be asked of a general Science Officer, however they specialize in the linguistic aspect of this department. Because of the vast breadth of language types, Translation Specialists may come aboard as Mission Advisors (see above) for regionally-specific missions or surveys of a given area. In this case, they usually report to the Language Specialist, rather than the Executive Officer.

Physicist

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the Physics section. This role deals with matter, energy, space, and time, and their relation to each other. On larger ships, there many be a number of Science Officers within this section, under the lead of the Head Physicist. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer.

Xeno Archaeologist/Anthropologist

The specialized Science Officer in charge of the Xeno Culture section. This role involves the study of all newly-discovered sapient species and life forms, from the long dead to thriving. Their knowledge also involves current known alien species. They have close ties to the History section. Reports to the Assistant Chief Science Officer.

External Links

• Pegasus Fleet: "Departments & Positions"