Departments & Positions
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Command (Challenger Crew)
The Command department is ultimately responsible for the ship and its crew, and those within the department are responsible for commanding the vessel and representing the interests of Starfleet.
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 Starfleet, and for representing both Starfleet and the Federation. Executive Officer The liaison between captain and crew, the Executive Officer acts as the disciplinarian, personnel manager, advisor to the captain, and much more. Second Officer The second officer is not a stand alone position, but a role given to the highest ranked and trusted officer aboard. When required the Second Officer will assume the role of XO, or if needed CO, and performs their duties as listed, for as long as required. Command Chief The seniormost Chief Petty Officer (including Senior and Master Chiefs), regardless of rating, is designated by the Commanding Officer as the Command Chief. In addition to his or her departmental responsibilities, the COB/CC performs the following duties: serves as a liaison between the Commanding Officer (or Executive Officer) and the enlisted crewmen; ensures enlisted crews understand Command policies; advises the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer regarding enlisted morale, and evaluates the quality of noncommissioned officer leadership, management, and supervisory training. Mission Advisor Advises the Commanding Officer and Executive Officer on mission-specific areas of importance. Many times, the Mission Advisor knows just as much about the mission as the CO and XO do, if not even more. He or she also performs mission-specific tasks, and can take on any roles that a mission requires him or her to do. Concurrently holds another position, except in rare circumstances. Yeoman Each department has an administrative specialist to hand all paperwork that can't be automatically done by the computer. They also assist with personnel-related issues, including career planning, family services, pay, and continuing education. The captain has a personal yeoman. -
Flight Control (Challenger Crew)
Responsible for the navigation and flight control of a vessel and its auxiliary craft, the Flight Control department includes pilots trained in both starship and auxiliary craft piloting.
Chief Helmsman A Helm Officer must always be present on the bridge of a starship. They plot courses, supervises the computers piloting, corrects any flight deviations and pilots the ship manually when needed. The Chief Helmsman is the senior most Flight Control Officer aboard. This is often seen as a fast track to career advancement as the Flight Control department is small enough to warrant a junior officer, yet they are in direct contact with the CO and considered part of the senior staff.. Lead Navigator Traditionally, the second-in-command of Flight Control takes charge of navigation and is personally responsible for maintaining the navigational systems and data. Flight Control Officer Helmsmen are junior officers or NCOs trained to pilot the ship and its small craft. There is always one on duty on the bridge and they often participate in away missions that require a shuttle. Deck Officer The Deck Officer, also known as the shuttlebay manager, is responsible for the Deck Division. They oversee management and maintenance of all the ship's shuttles and EVA equipment, including all the support systems associated like fuel lines. This can be a commissioned or noncomissioned officer. Boatswain The Boatswain is usually a chief petty officer and the most experienced member of the department, making them an invaluable resource for a young department head. Boatswain's Mates are responsible for leading all EVA activity, including assisting other departments in external repairs and training crew for EVA, emergency procedures, and general shipboard life. Quartermaster Enlisted members of the staff responsible for maintaining navigation systems, quartermasters fill in on the bridge during routine shifts. Most are also certified small craft pilots. -
Security & Tactical (Challenger Crew)
Merging the responsibilities of ship-to-ship and personnel combat into a single department, the security & tactical department is responsible for protecting the ship against hostile actors.
Chief Tactical Officer The Chief Tactical Officer's duty is to ensure the safety of ship and crew from hostile forces. This includes providing escort to landing parties, defending the ship from boarding (or leading boarding operations), and operating the ship's weapons. They may also conduct criminal investigations. They oversee the security and tactical divisions. Assistant Chief Tactical Officer The Assistant Chief Tactical Officer is sometimes called Deputy of Security. They assust the Chief of Security in the daily work; in issues regarding Security and any administrative matters. If required the Deputy must be able to take command of the Security department. Security Officer There are several Security Officers aboard each vessel. They are assigned to their duties by the Chief of Security and his/her Deputy and mostly guard sensitive areas, protect people, patrol, and handle other threats to the Federation. Tactical Officer There are several Tactical Officers aboard each vessel. They operate and maintain the ship's weapons. They must also be familiar with threat force spacecraft. Typically one is assigned to oversee the control room of each set of phasers and the photon launchers. Master-at-Arms The Master-at-Arms is a senior security NCO. They maintain the ship's armory, assist with investigations, and are responsbile for overseeing self-defense training for all crew, including those outside the security department. They act as a senior advisor to the chief security officer. Security Enlisted The security department has the highest ratio of enlisted. These skilled personnel include security troopers, phaser operators, and torpedomen. -
Operations (Challenger Crew)
The operations department is responsible for keeping ship systems functioning properly and managing resources. In particular, they provide services that many departments need to use, such as communications, computers, and supply.
Chief Operations Officer The Chief Operations Officer has the primary responsibility of ensuring that ship functions, such as the use of the sensor arrays and computers, 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 Chief Operations Officer on a temporary or permanent basis if so needed. Communications Specialist The Communications officer is responsible for managing all the ship's internal and external communications, as well as the ship's data network and main computer's software. They also must be familiar with the functions of the universal translator, so a background in interpreting or linguistics is encouraged. Logistics Specialist The logistics division is responsible for managing the ship's consumable supplies and equipment. This ranges from raw feedstock to away team gear to laboratory tools. They also oversee the operation of the ship's fabricators, food synthesizers, and machine shops. Computer Systems Specialist The Computer Systems Specialist is responsible for maintaining and operating the ship's main computers. This includes assisting other department with tasks such as updating software, troubleshooting connections between equipment and the network, and removing files accidentally downloaded while viewing dodgy Orion websites. Chef The chef, or chief culinary specialist, oversees the ship's kitchen and mess hall. While many dishes can be synethesized, many more turn out poorly, especially ones with complex textures and structures. The ship's chef is an expert at taking raw ingredients, real or synthetic, and combining them with delicious results. Their work is not only critical to morale, but to health and even diplomacy. They must be familiar with the dietary needs and restrictions of all crew members and be ready to serve dignitaries who come aboard in a way that impresses. Transporter Specialist The Transporter Chiefs are responsible for all transports to and from other ships and any planetary bodies. When transporting is not going on, the Transporter Chief is responsible for keeping the transporters running at peak efficiency. Transporter Specialists also assist with maintaining the matter synthesis systems. -
Engineering (Challenger Crew)
The engineering department has the enormous task of keeping the ship working, including operating the engines and conducting repairs.
Chief Engineering Officer The Chief Engineer is responsible for the condition of all systems on board a Starfleet ship or facility. They oversee maintenance, repairs and upgrades of all ship systems. They are also responsible for coordinating damage control parties during crisis situations. They must be intimately familiar with the proper function of the ship and able to innovate repairs far from spacedock. Assistant Chief Engineering Officer The Assistant Chief Engineer assists the Chief Engineer in the daily work; in issues regarding mechanical, administrative matters and co-ordinating repairs with other departments. Engineering Officer The Assistant Chief Engineer assists the Chief Engineer in the daily work; in issues regarding mechanical, administrative matters and co-ordinating repairs with other departments.
If so required, the Assistant Chief Engineer must be able to take over as Chief Engineer, and thus must be versed in current information regarding the ship or facility.Damage Control Specialist The Damage Control Specialist is a specialized Engineer. The Damage Control Specialist controls all damage control aboard the ship when it gets damaged in battle. S/he oversees all damage repair aboard the ship, and coordinates repair teams on the smaller jobs so the Chief Engineer can worry about other matters.
A small team is assigned to the Damage Control Specialist which is made up from NCO personnel assigned by the Assistant and Chief Engineer. The Damage Control Specialist reports to the Assistant and Chief Engineer.Power Systems Specialist The Power Systems Specialist is a specialized Engineer. They oversee operations and maintenance of the ship's reactors, including the impulse and warp reactors, and the power distribution grid. Propulsion Specialist Specializing in impulse and warp propulsion, these specialists are often specific to even a single class of ship due to the complexity of warp and impulse systems. Structural/Environmental Specialist The Structural and Environmental Systems Specialist is a specialised Engineer. From a small ship/facility to a large one, all requires constant monitoring. The hull, bulkheads, walls, Jeffrey's tubes, turbolifts, structural integrity field, internal dampening field, and environmental systems are all monitored and maintained by this officer and their team. -
Science (Challenger Crew)
From sensor readings to figuring out a way to enter the strange spacial anomaly, the science department is responsible for recording data, testing new ideas out, and making discoveries.
Chief Science Officer The Chief Science Officer is responsible for all the scientific data the ship collects, including coordinating the various scientific divisions and choosing the best lead investigators for any given research. They are also responsible with providing the ship's captain with scientific information needed for command decisions. Assistant Chief Science Officer The Assistant Chief Science Officer assists Chief Science Officer in all areas, such as administration, and analysis of scientific data. The Assistant often take part in specific analysis of important data along with the Chief Science Officer, however spends most time overseeing current project and their section heads. General Science Officer There are dozens of research scientists aboard. These individuals, generally officers or warrants, are lead investigators for their particular specialty. For example, in Life Sciences this might include botanists or mycologists, while Planetary and Space Sciences includes stellar cartographers and geologists. Astrometrics and Planetary Science Officer Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Space and Planetary Section. This includes studying stellar bodies, including their geology and other features, and stellar cartography. They often work closely with the navigator. Social Science Officer Specialized Science Officer in charge of the Social Science Section. This role involves the study both current and past societies and cultures. They often work closely with the Communications Officer in translating and understanding languages. Life Sciences Officer 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 Biologist. Physical Science Officer These scientists are responsible for the study of physics and chemistry. Laboratory Technician Lab techs are enlisted personnel who support the division researchers. They often have advanced degrees themselves but have chosen not to take a leadership role. -
Medical (Challenger Crew)
The medicaldepartment is responsible for the mental and physical health of the crew, from running annual physicals to healing disease and injuries to helping a crew member deal with the loss of a loved one.
Chief Medical Officer The Chief Medical Officer is responsible for the physical health of the entire crew, but does more than patch up injured crew members. Their function is to ensure that they do not get sick or injured to begin with, and to this end monitors their health and conditioning with regular check ups. If necessary, the Chief Medical Officer can remove anyone from duty, even a Commanding Officer. Counselor A counselor is a mental health professional, typically a psychologist or psychiatrist. They must be familiar with a wide variety of culutures and species in order to provide useful care to a wide range of personnel. Assistant Chief Medical Officer A starship or facility has numerous personnel aboard, and thus the Chief Medical Officer cannot be expect to do all the work required. The Asst. Chief Medical Officer assists Chief in all areas, such as administration, and application of medical care. Physician The ship has a handful of medical doctors. Due to the small size of the staff, they are usually cross-trained to do emergency medicine and basic surgery in addition to their speciality. Head Nurse The Head Nurse oversees all the Nurses currently aboard, ensuring they are assigned to task and working as required in there area. Additionally the Head nurse performs the normal duties of the nurse, assisting the Duty Medical Officer in sickbay. Nurse Nurses are skilled medical professionals who do the bulk of the work in sickbay. They provide routine care for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, including ongoing care while a patient is in sickbay, and assist the doctor with more complex medical procedures. It is important to remember that in the 23rd century, ancient class divides have largely faded and nurses are consider colleagues of physicians, not purely subordinate, and on starships they often have advanced degrees. Corpsman Enlisted corpsmen are medical technicians who support sickbay operations, as well as emergency field medics. Many are trained in rescue operations. -
Civilian Affairs (Challenger Crew)
Civilians are occasionally attached to a starship, typically as a Mission Specialist for specific operations. Occasionally this extends to other services, including embedded reporters, diplomats, and managing the rec room.
Civilian Specialist Occasionally civilians will travel aboard a starship, generally as part of some cooperative venture with another organization, such as the Federation Diplomatic Service, the Daystrom Institute, or a planetary government. -
Non-Crew NPCs (Non-Crew NPCs)
NPCs who are not part of the crew but show up occasionally.
Mission NPC A mission-specific NPC. Recurring NPC Non-crew NPCs that show up in multiple missions.