Specialist is an enlisted rank. In the old United States Army, the pay grade was equivalent to corporal, and indicated someone with special training in some area, though not with leadership responsibility, usually a weapons or other tactical system. Specialist can also be used as a title to refer to a higher ranked person who has been appointed a specialist in a position.
Specialist Robert Tomlinson was part of the ship's phaser crew aboard Enterprise in 2266. (TOS: "Balance of Terror"). He had one solid rank stripe, indicating that he held the rank of lieutenant.
- It is likely that the designation of specialist reflected the additional training and responsibility attached to this posting.
Ensign Robin Lefler was assigned as a specialist in 2368 aboard the Enterprise-D. (TNG: "The Game", et al.)