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{{at|xx}}
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{{multiple}}
 
{{sidebar rank
  
{{sidebar rank
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|name = Captain
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|name = Captain
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|image = US o-3 rank pin.png
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|tab1 = Starfleet
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|tab2 = ALT
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|imagecap = [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]/[[United States Army|US Army]]/[[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]], [[20th century|Mid - Late 20th century]]
  
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|t1era = [[Starfleet uniform (2140s-early 2160s)|2140s-early 2160s]]
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|image2 = SS patch captain.png
  
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|t1image = Starfleet captain insignia (2140s-early 2160s).png
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|imagecap2 = [[SS|German SS]]
  
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|t1caption = Shoulder [[rank]] [[pip]]s
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|image3 = Ent capt.png
  
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|imagecap3 = [[Starfleet]], [[22nd century]]
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|t1era2 = [[Starfleet uniform (2230s)|2230s]]
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|t1image2 = Starfleet captain insignia (early 2230s).svg
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|image4 = 2230s capt.png
  
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|imagecap4 = Starfleet, [[2230s]]
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|t1caption2 = Sleeve [[stripe]]s
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|t1era3 = [[Starfleet uniform (late 2230s-2250s)|Late 2230s-2250s]]
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|image5 = Officer stripe, 2254-2265.png
  
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|imagecap5 = Starfleet, [[2250s]]
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|t1image3 = Starfleet captain insignia (late 2230s-2250s).svg
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|t1imageC = Starfleet captain insignia (2250s), command.svg
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|image6 = WNMHGB capt.png
  
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|t1caption3 = Type A [[Command division|command]] [[badge]] with pips<br />& Type B command sleeve stripes
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|imagecap6 = Starfleet, [[2260s]]
  
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|t1era4 = [[Starfleet uniform (2250s-early 2270s)|2250s-2260s]]
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|image7 = Tos capt.png
  
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|imagecap7 = Starfleet, [[2260s|Mid 2260s]] - [[2270s|Mid 2270s]]
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|t1image4 = Starfleet officer insignia (2250s-2260s).png
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|t1imageD = Starfleet captain insignia (2250s-2260s).png
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|image8 = Mov capt.png
  
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|t1caption4 = Transitional uniform sleeve stripes
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|imagecap8 = Starfleet, [[2270s|Late 2270s]] - [[2350s]]
  
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|t1era5 = [[Starfleet uniform (mid 2270s)|2260s-Mid 2270s]]
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|image9 = Tng capt.png
  
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|imagecap9 = Starfleet, [[2350s]] -
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|t1image5 = Starfleet captain insignia (2250s-mid 2270s).png
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|t1caption5 = Sleeve stripes
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|t1era6 = [[Starfleet uniform (late 2270s-2350s)|Late 2270s-2350s]]
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|t1image6 = Starfleet captain insignia (late 2270s-2350s).png
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|t1caption6 = Pin
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|t1size6 = qw
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|t1era7 = [[Starfleet uniform (2350s-2370s)|2350s]]-[[Starfleet uniform (mid 2380s)|2380s]]
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|t1image7 = Starfleet captain insignia (2350s-2380s).svg
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|t1caption7 = Rank pips
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|t1era8 = [[Starfleet uniform (late 2390s)|Late 2390s]]-[[Starfleet uniform (early 2400s)|Early 2400s]]
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|t1image8 = Starfleet captain insignia (2390s).png
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|t1caption8 = Rank pips
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|t1era9 = [[Starfleet uniform (32nd century)|32nd century]]
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|t1image9 = Starfleet captain insignia (32nd century).png
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|t1caption9 = [[Tricom badge]]
  ⚫
|t2era = [[Starfleet uniform (mirror)|2150s]] ([[mirror universe]])
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|t2image = Terran captain epaulet (2150s).png
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|t2caption = [[Terran Starfleet]] epaulet
  ⚫
|t2era2 = 2260s (mirror universe)
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|t2image2 = Terran captain vest epaulet (2260s).png
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|t2caption2 = Terran Starfleet epaulet
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|t2era3 = [[Starfleet uniform (alternate reality)|2250s-2260s]] ([[alternate reality]])
  ⚫
|t2image3 = Starfleet captain insignia (alternate reality).png
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|t2caption3 = Sleeve stripes
  ⚫
|t2era4 = [[Starfleet uniform (alternate)|2370]] ([[alternate timeline]])
  +
|t2image4 = Starfleet captain insignia (Barash's illusion).png
  ⚫
|t2caption4 = Starfleet insignia
  ⚫
|t2era5 = 29th century
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|t2image5 = Starfleet captain insignia (29th century).png
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|t2caption5 = Collar insignia
 
}}
  
}}
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{{disambiguation link}}
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{{sidebar rank
  
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{{aquote|Well, now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?.''"<br />"''No. It just means I'm never wrong.|[[Kira Nerys]] and [[Benjamin Sisko]]|2371|The Adversary}}
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|name = Alternate Captain
  
  ⚫
'''Captain''' was a [[commissioned officer]] [[rank]], the equivalent of which was used by the service organizations of many civilizations. The title of {{dis|captain|title}} was often used by vessel [[CO|commanders]] and, as a [[navy|naval]] rank, in many Earth navies and [[Starfleet]], was above [[commander]].
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|image = mirror capt.png
  
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|imagecap = [[Terran Starfleet]], [[22nd century]]<br/>([[mirror universe]])
  
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|image2 = Mirror capt-vest.png
  
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|imagecap2 = Terran Starfleet, [[2260s]] ([[mirror universe]])
  
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|image3 = Altcptrank.png
  
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|imagecap3 = Starfleet, [[2250s]] ([[alternate reality]])
  
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|image4 = A.I. Starfleet CAPT.png
  
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|imagecap4 = Starfleet, [[2370]] ([[alternate timeline]])
  
⚫
|image5 = 29th capt.png
  
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|imagecap5 = Starfleet, [[29th century]]
  
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}}
  
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{{aquote|Part of being a captain is knowing when to smile, make the troops happy even when it's the last thing in the world you want to do. Because they're your troops and you have to take care of them.|[[Benjamin Sisko]]|2372|Rules of Engagement}}
  
   
  +
== History ==
⚫
'''Captain''' is a military [[rank]], the equivalent of which was used by the service organizations of many civilizations. The title of captain was often used by vessel commanders and, as a [[navy|naval]] rank, in many Earth navies and [[Starfleet]], was above [[commander]]. As an infantry rank, captains ranked subordinate to a [[major]] and above a [[first lieutenant]]. The abbreviation for captain was capt.
  
  +
The naval rank of captain was common in Earth militaries and was used by the [[United States Navy]] branch of the [[United States military]] and was comparable to the infantry rank of [[colonel]]. In the Earth Starfleet, and later the [[Federation]], it was represented by four collar [[pip]]s.
   
  ⚫
By the mid-[[22nd century]], captain was a senior [[line officer]] rank of most space services and usually given to the [[commanding officer]]s of starships. This naval rank was equivalent to the [[Romulan Star Empire]]'s commander grade, the [[Cardassian Union]]'s [[title]] of [[gul]] and the [[Ferengi Alliance]]'s quasi-military [[DaiMon]] title.
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== Earth history ==
  
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On [[Earth]], the title of captain was used as far back as the Middle Ages, where a captain was a nobleman commissioned to command a company of soldiers. One of the characters of [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Henry V]]'' was quoted as saying "''Under what captain serve you?''" when approached on guard duty. ({{TNG|The Defector}})
  
   
  ⚫
A senior captain given a large degree of responsibility or administrative assignment was sometimes given the title of [[fleet captain]].
−
By the [[20th century]], the rank of captain was common in Earth militaries and was used by all branches of service in the [[United States armed forces]]. The rank of captain was represented by a double rectangular silver bar uniform insignia for ground units and the equivalent of a [[colonel]]'s eagle for naval captains. In [[2364]], the [[Q]]-entity took the form of a [[US Marine Corps]] captain when confronting Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]]. In this disguise, Q was quoted as stating "''All it takes is a few good men''." Q also appeared as a [[16th century]] [[sea]] captain to the crew. ({{TNG|Encounter at Farpoint}})
  
   
  ⚫
The rank of captain could also be held by non-command personnel, especially on ships with a number of veteran and senior officers whose experience had warranted advancement to the rank of captain but without command of a starship. Such was the case on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}, where the [[senior staff]] consisted of no less than three captains: the commanding officer ([[James T. Kirk]]), the [[first officer]] ([[Spock]]), and the [[chief engineer]] ([[Montgomery Scott]]). ({{film|6}}) Captain Scott had previously held his rank of captain while chief engineer of the {{USS|Excelsior|NCC-2000}}, where he was known as the "[[captain of engineering]]". ({{film|3}})
−
The rank of captain was also used by [[World War II]] [[Germany]]. In the German army, the rank was translated as ''Hauptmann'' (headman), but in the [[SS]], company captains were referred to as ''Hauptsturmführer'' ("head storm leader"). The collar insignia for this was a black square bordered with white, with three silver [[pip]]s in a diagonal line, with two stripes underneath.
  
   
  +
{{bginfo|Montgomery Scott is shown wearing a captain's rank pin in {{film|3}}, yet a commander's insignia in the final court martial scene of {{film|4}}, possibly a production error. By {{film|5}} and for all appearances thereafter, his uniform is depicted with a captain pin.}}
−
In a [[holodeck]] simulation of a [[Nazi]] campaign in [[France]], a group of [[Hirogen]] pitted the crew of {{USS|Voyager}} against [[holographic]] [[1940s]] Germans. A [[US Army]] captain named [[Miller]] was the role assigned to [[Chakotay]] in the program; an SS ''Hauptsturmführer'' captain was another character in the simulation. ({{VOY|The Killing Game|The Killing Game, Part II}})
  
−
{{bginfo|The Nazi captain in "The Killing Game" was played by [[J. Paul Boehmer]]. He was billed as the SS ''Kapitän'', although his rank insignia was that of a ''Hauptsturmführer''. In {{ENT|Storm Front}}, Boehmer wore the same uniform, but with [[second lieutenant|''Untersturmführer'']] insignia, this time credited as "SS Agent".}}
  
   
  ⚫
The rank of captain could also be held by staff officers, such as [[Phillipa Louvois]], a [[Judge Advocate General]] sector officer in [[2365]]. ({{TNG|The Measure Of A Man}}) Although most Starfleet Captains were in the command division, the rank was obtainable in both the [[science division|sciences]] and [[operations division]], as the rank was held by Captain [[Krasnovsky]] in [[2267]] and Captain [[Worf]] in 2401. ({{TOS|Court Martial}}; {{PIC|The Last Generation}})
⚫
== Starfleet captains ==
  
⚫
By the mid [[22nd century]], captain was a senior line officer rank of most space services and usually given to the commanding officers of starships. This naval rank is equivalent to the infantry rank of colonel, the [[Romulan Star Empire]]'s [[commander]] grade, the [[Cardassian Union]]'s [[titles and occupations|title]] of [[gul]] and the [[Ferengi Alliance]]'s quasi-military [[DaiMon]] title.
  
   
  +
[[Tryla Scott]] was said to have achieved the rank of captain faster than anyone in Starfleet [[history]] as of [[2364]]. ({{TNG|Conspiracy}})
−
On starships, the term captain was also often used as a synonym to commanding officer. Proper naval parlance said that, even if a vessel was commanded by an officer whose rank was lower than captain, that officer was still able to be referred to as a captain while on the deck of their own vessel, no matter their literal commissioned rank.
  
   
  +
{{bginfo|Krasnovsky is the only character in ''Star Trek'' to be seen wearing a sciences uniform while holding the rank of captain. Only two captains have been pictured in an operations uniform; Scotty beginning with {{film|3}} and Worf in {{s|PIC}}.}}
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Captains of starships, often located hundreds of [[light year]]s away from and out of communications with higher authority, needed to be able to function autonomously and make independent command decisions affecting [[Federation]] policy and countless lives. Accordingly, few Starfleet officers ever gained the captaincy of a starship, the result of decades of sustained excellence as a Starfleet leader.
  
   
  +
In the [[2360s]], [[K'Vada]], [[Kargan]], [[Korris]], [[Kurn]], {{dis|Larg|Captain}}, and [[Tel-Peh]] were captains in the [[Klingon Defense Force]]. ({{TNG|Heart of Glory|Redemption II}}; {{DS9|Dramatis Personae}}) In the [[2150s]], [[Vorok]] was a captain in the [[Klingon Imperial Fleet]]. ({{ENT|Unexpected}})
⚫
A senior captain given a large degree of responsibility or administrative assignment was sometimes given the title of [[fleet captain]].
  
   
  ⚫
Captain was a title typically held by commanders of merchant vessels and sometimes service craft. In [[2367]], Wesley Crusher remarked in a bemused manner that [[Dirgo]] was claiming to hold the rank of captain while serving as the master of the mining shuttle ''[[Nenebek]]''. To this, Dirgo sternly told Crusher that yes, indeed, his rank was that of captain in comparison to Crusher's rank of [[ensign]]. ({{TNG|Final Mission}})
⚫
The rank of captain could also be held by non-command personnel, especially on ships with a number of veteran and senior officers whose experience had warranted advancement to the rank of captain but without command of a starship. Such was the case on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}, where the [[senior staff]] consisted of no less than three captains: the commanding officer ([[James T. Kirk]]), the [[first officer]] ([[Spock]]), and the [[chief engineer]] ([[Montgomery Scott]]). ({{film|6}}) Captain Scott had previously held his rank of captain while chief engineer of the {{USS|Excelsior}}, where he was known as the "captain of engineering". ({{film|3}})
  
   
  +
When [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Data]] was asked in [[2368]] by {{dis|Timothy|Vico}} why he wasn't captain of the ''Enterprise-''D, Data explained that "''My service experience does not yet warrant such a position.''" ({{TNG|Hero Worship}})
−
{{bginfo|Although Scotty was given the title "captain of engineering," he was still wearing commander's insignia in ''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock''. He was seen wearing both captain's and commander's insignia in {{film|4}}, possibly indicating, though never mentioned on-screen, that Scotty was either frocked or promoted to the rank of captain, despite his taking part in the hijacking of the ''Enterprise''.}}
  
   
  ⚫
Some known [[Starfleet captains]] included:
⚫
The rank of captain could also be held by staff officers, such as those assigned to as a [[Judge Advocate General]] sector officer. Such was the case with [[Phillipa Louvois]], who was a sector JAG officer in [[2365]]. ({{TNG|The Measure Of A Man}}) Reaching the rank of captain in other non-command branches of Starfleet was generally considered difficult, as noticed by one [[Michael Eddington|security officer]], who once remarked "''You don't make captain by wearing a gold shirt''". ({{DS9|The Adversary}}) However, the rank was apparently obtainable in both the [[science division|sciences]] and [[operations division]], as the rank was held by Captain [[Krasnovsky]] in [[2267]], although he may have held command qualification while also being a science officer, and [[Vice Admiral]] [[Toddman]] presumably held the rank sometime before [[2371]]. ({{TOS|Court Martial}}; {{DS9|The Die is Cast}})
  
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{{bginfo|Krasnovsky is the only character in ''Star Trek'' to be seen wearing a sciences uniform while holding the rank of captain. [[Jadzia Dax]] and {{alt|Spock}} held the title of captain in a sciences uniform, but not the actual rank. [[Leonard McCoy]] also presumably once held the rank, since he was an admiral in 2364, but wasn't seen in an uniform. In the real-world {{w|United States Navy}}, medical captains are very common as senior doctors in charge of Navy hospitals. The {{w|Surgeon General of the United States Navy}} is a vice admiral, for example (as is the {{w|Surgeon General of the United States}}).}}
  
−  
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Some noted captains in Starfleet [[history]] were:
  
   
 
* Captain [[Jonathan Archer]] of {{EnterpriseNX}}
  
* Captain [[Jonathan Archer]] of {{EnterpriseNX}}
−
* Captain [[Christopher Pike]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}
 +
* Captain [[Balthazar Edison]] of {{USS|Franklin}}
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* Captain [[Richard Robau]] of the {{USS|Kelvin}}
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* Captain [[Robert April]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}
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* Captain [[Philippa Georgiou]] of the {{USS|Shenzhou}}
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* Captain [[Christopher Pike]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} and {{USS|Discovery}}
  +
* Captain [[Gabriel Lorca]] of the {{USS|Buran|NCC-1422}}
 
* Captain [[James T. Kirk]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}
  
* Captain [[James T. Kirk]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}}
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* Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} and the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}
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* Captain [[Hikaru Sulu]] of the {{USS|Excelsior|NCC-2000}}
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* Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]] of [[Deep Space 9]] and the {{USS|Defiant|2370}}
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* Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] of the {{USS|Stargazer|NCC-2893}}, {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-E|-E}}
  +
* Captain [[Phillipa Louvois]] of the [[Judge Advocate General|Judge Advocate General's]] office
  +
* Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]] of [[Deep Space 9]]
 
* Captain [[Kathryn Janeway]] of the {{USS|Voyager}}
  
* Captain [[Kathryn Janeway]] of the {{USS|Voyager}}
  +
* Captain [[William T. Riker]] of the {{USS|Titan|NCC-80102}} and {{USS|Zheng He}}
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* Captain [[Carol Freeman]] of the {{USS|Cerritos}}
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* Captain [[Saru]] of the {{USS|Discovery}}
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* Captain [[Michael Burnham]] of the USS ''Discovery''
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* Captain [[Chakotay]] of the {{USS|Protostar}}
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* Captain [[Worf]]
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* Captain [[Cristóbal Rios]] of the {{USS|Stargazer|NCC-82893}}
  +
* Captain [[Liam Shaw]] of the {{USS|Titan|NCC-80102-A|-A}}
  +
* Captain [[Tuvok]]
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* Captain [[Seven of Nine]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-G|-G}}
   
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The Starfleet of the [[alternate reality]] established in [[2233]] by the temporal incursion of the [[Romulan]] [[Nero]] had the following noteworthy captains:
 +
''The Starfleet of the [[alternate reality]] established in [[2233]] by the temporal incursion of the [[Romulan]] [[Nero]] had the following noteworthy captains'':
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* Captain {{alt|Christopher Pike}} of the {{USS|Enterprise|alternate reality}}
+
* ''Captain [[Frank Abbott]] of the {{USS|Bradbury|alternate reality}}''
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* Captain {{alt|James T. Kirk}} of the {{USS|Enterprise|alternate reality}}
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* ''Captain {{alt|Christopher Pike}} of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701 alternate reality}}''
  +
* ''Captain {{alt|James T. Kirk}} of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701 alternate reality}} and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A alternate reality|-A}}''
   
−
<gallery caption="Captains">
 +
<gallery caption="Captains" orientation="none">
 
File:Jonathan Archer, 2155.jpg|Captain Jonathan Archer
  
File:Jonathan Archer, 2155.jpg|Captain Jonathan Archer
−
File:Christopher Pike, The Cage.jpg|Captain Christopher Pike
 +
File:Balthazar Edison file.png|Captain Balthazar Edison
  +
File:Richard Robau.jpg|Captain Richard Robau
  +
File:Robert April, young.jpg|Captain Robert April
  +
File:Philippa Georgiou.jpg|Captain Philippa Georgiou
  +
File:Christopher Pike, 2253.png|Captain Christopher Pike
 
File:James Kirk, 2266.jpg|Captain James T. Kirk
  
File:James Kirk, 2266.jpg|Captain James T. Kirk
−
File:Jean Luc Picard 2364.jpg|Captain Jean-Luc Picard
 +
File:Hikaru Sulu, 2293.jpg|Captain Hikaru Sulu
−
File:Sisko2375.jpg|Captain Benjamin Sisko
 +
File:Jean-Luc Picard, 2364.jpg|Captain Jean-Luc Picard
  +
File:Benjamin Sisko, 2375.jpg|Captain Benjamin Sisko
 
File:Kathryn Janeway, 2377.jpg|Captain Kathryn Janeway
  
File:Kathryn Janeway, 2377.jpg|Captain Kathryn Janeway
  +
File:William Riker, 2399.jpg|Captain William T. Riker
  +
File:Carol Freeman.jpg|Captain Carol Freeman
  +
File:Saru, 2257.jpg|Captain Saru
  +
File:Chakotay hologram, Protostar dedication.jpg|Captain Chakotay
  +
File:Cristóbal Rios, 2401.png|Captain Cristóbal Rios
  +
File:Worf, 2401.png|Captain Worf
  +
File:Seven of Nine, 2402.jpg|Captain Seven of Nine
  +
File:Michael Burnham, Captain, 3189.png|Captain Michael Burnham
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
 
<br />
  
<br />
 
<gallery caption="Alternate reality captains">
  
<gallery caption="Alternate reality captains">
−
File:Christopher Pike, 2258.jpg|Captain Christopher Pike
 +
File:Frank Abbott.jpg|''Captain Frank Abbott''
−
File:James T. Kirk, alternate reality.jpg|Captain James T. Kirk
 +
File:Christopher Pike, 2258.jpg|''Captain Christopher Pike''
  +
File:James T. Kirk, alternate reality.jpg|''Captain James T. Kirk''
  +
</gallery>
  +
<br />
  +
<gallery caption="Mirror universe captains">
  +
File:Danby Connor (mirror).jpg|''Captain Danby Connor''
  +
File:Maximilian Forrest.jpg|''Captain Maximilian Forrest''
  +
File:Maddox.jpg|''Captain Maddox''
  +
File:Gabriel Lorca Mirror Universe.jpg|''Captain Gabriel Lorca''
  +
File:Sylvia Tilly (mirror).jpg|''Captain Sylvia "Killy" Tilly''
  +
File:Michael Burnham (mirror).png|''Captain Michael Burnham''
  +
File:James T. Kirk (mirror).jpg|''Captain James T. Kirk''
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
−
== Other versions of captain ==
  
⚫
Captain was a title typically held by commanders of merchant vessels and sometimes service craft. In [[2367]], Wesley Crusher remarked in a bemused manner that [[Dirgo]] was claiming to hold the rank of captain while serving as the master of the mining shuttle ''[[Nenebek]]''. To this, Dirgo sternly told Crusher that yes, indeed, his rank was that of captain in comparison to Crusher's rank of [[ensign]]. ({{TNG|Final Mission}})
  
−  
−
The title of captain was also given to the leader of a [[sport]]s team. [[Julian Bashir]] was the captain of the [[Starfleet Medical Academy]] [[racquetball]] team. ({{DS9|Rivals}})
  
   
 
{{ranks}}
  
{{ranks}}
   
 
== Appendices ==
  
== Appendices ==
−
=== Related topics ===
  
−
*[[Starfleet captains|List of Starfleet captains]]
  
−  
 
=== Background information ===
  
=== Background information ===
  +
The lead characters in ''[[Star Trek]]'' productions have traditionally been Starfleet captains. In the broadcast television era, these characters were (in production order) [[James T. Kirk]] ([[William Shatner]]), [[Jean-Luc Picard]] ([[Patrick Stewart]]), [[Benjamin Sisko]] ([[Avery Brooks]]), [[Kathryn Janeway]] ([[Kate Mulgrew]]), and [[Jonathan Archer]] ([[Scott Bakula]]; the only difference when listed chronologically being that Captain Archer was before the other four captains). This format was the intention from the very first episode of ''Star Trek'', {{e|The Cage}}, wherein Captain Christopher Pike is established as the lead character. At first, the only exception to the captain-as-series-lead practice was when Sisko was portrayed as a commander during the first three seasons of {{s|DS9}}, however in the streaming era, this has become much more common: for example, in {{s|DIS}}, Captains [[Philippa Georgiou]], [[Gabriel Lorca]], Christopher Pike, and later [[Saru]] serve as secondary characters to series lead [[Michael Burnham]], who only becomes a captain herself at the end of the third season after a long story arc. Similarly, {{S|PIC}} follows [[retire]]d [[Admiral]] Jean-Luc Picard, while {{S|LD}} follows a group of [[ensign]]s.
⚫
The [[Bajoran Militia]], which also used army rank names, has been referred to by the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' as having a captain grade, with an insignia seen in episodes on officers subordinate to [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]], although they were never referred to by any specific rank in [[canon]] productions or materials.
  
  +
  +
Regarding the challenge of following the legacy of so many extremely well-established series lead characters who had been Starfleet captains, ''Discovery'' Executive Producer [[Alex Kurtzman]] commented, "''It's incredibly difficult to follow the amazing Starfleet captains that have already been created and beloved by so many. Every single one of them in different ways have been rendered so beautifully and so specifically that they're all tough acts to follow, but I'm sure that, when each one was being conceived, that the creators of those particular captains were scared about, you know, matching the one that had come before.''" ("Discovering ''Discovery'': The Concepts and Casting of ''Star Trek: Discovery''", [[DIS Season 1 DVD]] and [[DIS Season 1 Blu-ray|Blu-ray]] special features)
  +
  +
The actors who have appeared in lead roles as ''Star Trek'' captains on broadcast television have been extremely varied. [[Jonathan Frakes]] remarked, "''The five captains are so distinctive because of the five actors that play them, obviously. Patrick [Stewart] was cast against type, coming after Bill [Shatner]. Avery [Brooks], quite obviously, was cast against type, coming after Patrick. It was smart to bring Kate [Mulgrew] in, as a woman, and then Scott [Bakula] had an entire charm of his own. I think [...] whether it was planned or not, it was a very successful endeavor.''" (''[[The Captains]]'')
  +
  ⚫
The [[Bajoran Militia]], which also used army rank names, has been referred to by the {{ste}} as having a captain grade, with an insignia seen in episodes on officers subordinate to [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]], although they were never referred to by that rank on screen.
   
 
=== External link ===
  
=== External link ===
 
* {{wikipedia}}
  
* {{wikipedia}}
   
  +
[[bg:Капитан]]
 
[[sr:Kapetan]]
  
[[sr:Kapetan]]
 
[[pt-br:Capitão]]
  
[[pt-br:Capitão]]
Line 117: Line 171:
 
[[fr:Capitaine]]
  
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Latest revision as of 02:02, 8 March 2024

Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)

For additional meanings of "Captain", please see Captain.
"Well, now that you have another pip on your collar, does that mean I can't disagree with you anymore?."
"No. It just means I'm never wrong."

Captain was a commissioned officer rank, the equivalent of which was used by the service organizations of many civilizations. The title of captain was often used by vessel commanders and, as a naval rank, in many Earth navies and Starfleet, was above commander.

History

The naval rank of captain was common in Earth militaries and was used by the United States Navy branch of the United States military and was comparable to the infantry rank of colonel. In the Earth Starfleet, and later the Federation, it was represented by four collar pips.

By the mid-22nd century, captain was a senior line officer rank of most space services and usually given to the commanding officers of starships. This naval rank was equivalent to the Romulan Star Empire's commander grade, the Cardassian Union's title of gul and the Ferengi Alliance's quasi-military DaiMon title.

A senior captain given a large degree of responsibility or administrative assignment was sometimes given the title of fleet captain.

The rank of captain could also be held by non-command personnel, especially on ships with a number of veteran and senior officers whose experience had warranted advancement to the rank of captain but without command of a starship. Such was the case on the USS Enterprise-A, where the senior staff consisted of no less than three captains: the commanding officer (James T. Kirk), the first officer (Spock), and the chief engineer (Montgomery Scott). (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) Captain Scott had previously held his rank of captain while chief engineer of the USS Excelsior, where he was known as the "captain of engineering". (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

Montgomery Scott is shown wearing a captain's rank pin in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, yet a commander's insignia in the final court martial scene of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, possibly a production error. By Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and for all appearances thereafter, his uniform is depicted with a captain pin.

The rank of captain could also be held by staff officers, such as Phillipa Louvois, a Judge Advocate General sector officer in 2365. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man") Although most Starfleet Captains were in the command division, the rank was obtainable in both the sciences and operations division, as the rank was held by Captain Krasnovsky in 2267 and Captain Worf in 2401. (TOS: "Court Martial"; PIC: "The Last Generation")

Tryla Scott was said to have achieved the rank of captain faster than anyone in Starfleet history as of 2364. (TNG: "Conspiracy")

Krasnovsky is the only character in Star Trek to be seen wearing a sciences uniform while holding the rank of captain. Only two captains have been pictured in an operations uniform; Scotty beginning with Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Worf in Star Trek: Picard.

In the 2360s, K'Vada, Kargan, Korris, Kurn, Larg, and Tel-Peh were captains in the Klingon Defense Force. (TNG: "Heart of Glory", "Redemption II"; DS9: "Dramatis Personae") In the 2150s, Vorok was a captain in the Klingon Imperial Fleet. (ENT: "Unexpected")

Captain was a title typically held by commanders of merchant vessels and sometimes service craft. In 2367, Wesley Crusher remarked in a bemused manner that Dirgo was claiming to hold the rank of captain while serving as the master of the mining shuttle Nenebek. To this, Dirgo sternly told Crusher that yes, indeed, his rank was that of captain in comparison to Crusher's rank of ensign. (TNG: "Final Mission")

When Lieutenant Commander Data was asked in 2368 by Timothy why he wasn't captain of the Enterprise-D, Data explained that "My service experience does not yet warrant such a position." (TNG: "Hero Worship")

Some known Starfleet captains included:

The Starfleet of the alternate reality established in 2233 by the temporal incursion of the Romulan Nero had the following noteworthy captains:




Appendices

Background information

The lead characters in Star Trek productions have traditionally been Starfleet captains. In the broadcast television era, these characters were (in production order) James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), and Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula; the only difference when listed chronologically being that Captain Archer was before the other four captains). This format was the intention from the very first episode of Star Trek, "The Cage", wherein Captain Christopher Pike is established as the lead character. At first, the only exception to the captain-as-series-lead practice was when Sisko was portrayed as a commander during the first three seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, however in the streaming era, this has become much more common: for example, in Star Trek: Discovery, Captains Philippa Georgiou, Gabriel Lorca, Christopher Pike, and later Saru serve as secondary characters to series lead Michael Burnham, who only becomes a captain herself at the end of the third season after a long story arc. Similarly, Star Trek: Picard follows retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, while Star Trek: Lower Decks follows a group of ensigns.

Regarding the challenge of following the legacy of so many extremely well-established series lead characters who had been Starfleet captains, Discovery Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman commented, "It's incredibly difficult to follow the amazing Starfleet captains that have already been created and beloved by so many. Every single one of them in different ways have been rendered so beautifully and so specifically that they're all tough acts to follow, but I'm sure that, when each one was being conceived, that the creators of those particular captains were scared about, you know, matching the one that had come before." ("Discovering Discovery: The Concepts and Casting of Star Trek: Discovery", DIS Season 1 DVD and Blu-ray special features)

The actors who have appeared in lead roles as Star Trek captains on broadcast television have been extremely varied. Jonathan Frakes remarked, "The five captains are so distinctive because of the five actors that play them, obviously. Patrick [Stewart] was cast against type, coming after Bill [Shatner]. Avery [Brooks], quite obviously, was cast against type, coming after Patrick. It was smart to bring Kate [Mulgrew] in, as a woman, and then Scott [Bakula] had an entire charm of his own. I think [...] whether it was planned or not, it was a very successful endeavor." (The Captains)

The Bajoran Militia, which also used army rank names, has been referred to by the Star Trek Encyclopedia as having a captain grade, with an insignia seen in episodes on officers subordinate to Major Kira Nerys, although they were never referred to by that rank on screen.

External link

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