Starfleet Chain of Command
Starfleet Command
Commander in Chief, Starfleet Command (CinC)
Vice-Commander in Chief, Starfleet Command (VCINC)
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Operations (C-OPERATIONS)
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Personnel (C-PERSONNEL)
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Intelligence (C-SFI)
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Marine Corps (C-MARINES)
Starbase Command
Starbase Commander in Chief (SCINC)
Starbase Executive Officer (SXO)
Starfleet Units
Commanding Officer (CO)
Executive Officer (XO)
Chief Operations Officer (COpsO)
Chief of Security/Tactical Officer (CSO/TactO)
Chief Engineering Officer (CEO)
Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Chief Science Officer (CSciO)
Flight Control Officer (FCO)
Counselor (Cns)
Marine Commander (MC)
Starfleet Command
Commander in Chief, Starfleet Command (CinC)
The Commander in Chief has primary responsibility for command, control and administration
of Starfleet and military strategy, operational plans and requirements.
The Commander in Chief is appointed by the Federation Council on the advice of the
Federation President. The CinC also has a special relationship to the Federation President
who, as the Federation Council representative, exercises virtually all of it's powers
under the Constitution and, therefore, serves as Commander in Chief of Starfleet. Thus
there is in formal terms, though not in practice, a direct "line of command" from the
Head of State through the CinC to all the officers who hold a Commission and, through
them, to all members of Starfleet.
The Commander in Chief is charged with the command, control and administration of
Starfleet and advises the Ministers on all these matters - including military / operational
requirements, capabilities, options and the possible consequences of undertaking or failing
to undertake various activities. Whenever required, the Commander in Chief advises the
Council directly on major military developments. The CinC is thus the senior military
advisor to the Council as a whole.
The Commander in Chief implements council decisions involving Starfleet by issuing
appropriate orders and instructions. The CinC is accountable to the Ministers for the
conduct of SF activities, as well as for the condition of the units and their ability
to fulfil the commitments and obligations undertaken by the Council.
Vice-Commander in Chief, Starfleet Command (VCINC)
The Vice-Commander in Chief has three distinct roles within the Starfleet Command structure:
- By custom, acts as the CinC in the latter's absence;
- As Chief of Staff to both the Ministers and the CinC, coordinates cross-boundary
issues, helps to resolve differences among Group Principals and Departmental Chiefs of
Staff, and provides support to the Ministers and CinC;
- As the senior resource manager at Starfleet Command, develops and oversees Starfleet's
strategic management and planning process and generates planning options and guidance to
meet overall objectives.
The VCINC also oversees the work of the Starfleet Chief Information Officer who is responsible for setting the strategic direction and plans for effective information management within Starfleet Command and the units. The Starfleet Chief Information Officer also provides delivery of common information management services and support, and a single departmental focal point for an integrated information management environment.
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Operations (C-OPERATIONS)
C-OPERATIONS oversees the operation and functioning of the starbases and their vessels. To
accomplish this, C-OPERATIONS may suggest assignment or reassignment of both vessels and
personnel in the fleet as needed. C-OPERATIONS can also recommend the placement and/or
removal of officers holding positions in starbase commands. Such decisions are made under
the recommendation of C-OPERATIONS and with the approval of SFC. In addition, C-OPERATIONS
is required to evaluate the persons holding positions in ship commands and recommendations
for new Commanding Officers making promotions and reprimands as necessary.
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Personnel (C-PERSONNEL)
C-PERSONNEL is responsible for the initial placement of officers graduating from Starfleet
Academy. C-PERSONNEL shall evaluate the officer biography submitted, make comments and
recommendations as needed, and assign new officers to a unit using data submitted by
vessel Commanding Officers (see CO) and based on a first come, first serve basis. In
addition to work pertaining to training, C-PERSONNEL will be responsible for maintaining
an up-to-date roster for Starfleet which shall be sent to C-OPERATIONS on a monthly basis.
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Intelligence (C-SFI)
C-SFI is responsible for all Starfleet Intelligence missions and operations. To accomplish
this, C-SFI may recommend assignment or reassignment of both vessels and personnel to
C-OPERATIONS as needed. Such decisions are made with the approval of SFC. In addition,
C-SFI is required to evaluate the persons holding positions in ship/starbase commands
in order to ensure the safety of Starfleet and the Federation.
Commanding Officer, Starfleet Marine Corps (C-MARINES)
In certain instances, it is necessary for Starfleet to carry out special operations that
go beyond the training that most officers have experienced. In those cases, it is left
up to C-MARINES to coordinate the men and women of the Starfleet Marine Corps. While
primarily dealing with military operations, Starfleet Marines have also been trained
for rescue operations and planetary defense. It is also the responsibility of C-MARINES,
under the direction of the Commander in Chief, to carry out all necessary functions that
will ensure the highest standards in the men and women of the Marine Corps and the Marine
Corps Command.
Starbase Command
Starbase Commander in Chief (SCINC)
The SCINC is responsible for:
- Exercising command of starbase in accordance with the Starfleet Organizational Orders
and as directed by the CinC;
- Generating and maintaining operationally-ready forces; providing advice on fleet
matters affecting security, defence, research and Starfleet;
- Providing inputs to the development of structure options and providing input from
Starbase Command to the development of plans and taskings for Starfleet operations;
- Exercising command of assigned units conducting force generation and routine operations;
- Exercising command of other units that may be assigned.
The responsibilities of SCINC involve not only duty within the starbase and fleet he or she command, but also involve duty as a representative of his or her command to Starfleet itself. SCINC is the authority to which all officers under his or her command report. As such, SCINC has the authority to assign or reassign personnel and vessels to other areas as needed within the sector. SCINC is also responsible for providing C-PERSONNEL a list of available positions on vessels of the fleet so graduates from the Academy may be assigned with all due speed. When a problem is brought to the attention of SCINC it is up to him/her to decide the action which will be taken against the offender, either court martial or lesser punishments. If a court martial is pursued SCINC should coordinate efforts between the offender's CO and JAG. All transfers must be first approved by SCINC before being carried out. SCINC also may recommend new Commanding Officers to the CinC as needed.
Starbase Executive Officer (SXO)
As second-in-command of a starbase SXO duties are still very important to the smooth
operation of the starbase and the ships attached to it. SXO has been assigned certain
responsibilities which, if ignored, may very well mean the downfall of a sector. Every
month, SXO is responsible for sending out and collecting the crew evaluations / logs for
each unit. The evaluations are reviewed for completeness and stored for future reference
while the logs are sent to C-OPERATIONS for inclusion in Starfleet databases. If SXO
notices several problems, 'bad marks', regarding a certain officer, he or she may choose
to bring the problem up with the problem officer's CO. In addition, if any disciplinary
actions are requested by a CO, SXO is required to forward those requests to SCINC for
immediate investigation. If no requests are filed, however, and after discussing the
problem with the officer's CO, SXO then may choose to bring the problem to the attention
of SCINC despite lack of disciplinary request.
Starfleet Units
Commanding Officer (CO)
The commanding officer is usually a Captain on a starship, an Admiral on a starbase, or a
Colonel for Marines. The commanding officer gives orders to his/her crew during the mission.
While off on deep space missions, problems may arise that need to be resolved for the
mission to continue. It is for this reason that COs of vessels have been given limited
powers regarding discipline. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operation of a
starship and to ensure it carries out its intended functions, a Commanding Officer is
responsible for submitting a crew evaluation form and weekly ship logs to his/her SXO.
SXO notifies vessel COs by sending out the blank form to be completed with all expediency
by the CO. Crew evaluations are not the end of the COs duties, however. COs are also
responsible for settling disputes among crewmen, promoting and reprimanding officers
as needed, and carrying out the orders of Starfleet Command and his/her starbase command,
as well as interpreting and complying with Federation legal and diplomatic directives.
As such, a Commanding Officer can be called upon to answer for his own actions and the
actions of his crew. In addition, all COs shall maintain accurate records on his or her
vessel which should include, but not necessarily be limited to, an up-to-date Ship's Log
and Crew Bio File. COs may also chose to recommend their XOs for Commanding Officer
positions.
Executive Officer (XO)
The Executive Officer is the second-in-command of the ship or base. If something were
to happen to the commanding officer, the executive officer would take command. Throughout
history, Executive Officers have been thought of as the unofficial morale officers of
Starfleet. They are responsible, to a certain extent for the welfare of the ship's crew.
XOs need to keep the crew informed of all changes and updates as soon as possible.
In addition, the XO acts as an advisor to the Captain giving advice and makes himself
available for consultation when needed. While the Captain may be regarded by some as
untouchable, the XOs are certainly thought of as the crew's link to him. In addition to
their duties to the CO and crew, XOs oversee transfers on and off the ship, by welcoming
a new crewmember and providing him/her with all the information and assistance needed to
begin the integration process and by sending a transferring officer's information,
including if possible his/her last evaluation, to the receiving CO. Executive Officers
may also settle internal disputes amongst crewmen if the matter is not considered to
demand the COs attention. Executive Officers are also called upon to lead away teams to
a planet or base when necessary.
Chief Operations Officer (COpsO)
The Chief of Operations is the third-in-command of the ship or base. The Chief of
Operations is in charge of monitoring the status of the ship or base. While the
Commanding Officer and Executive Officer oversee the daily functions of the crew,
the Operations Officer is responsible for overseeing the functions of the ship itself.
By monitoring the status of each ship system through his/her console on the bridge, the
Ops officer can prioritize and allocate resources to various departments as needed. Most
prioritization and allocation is done by the computer, but constant monitoring ensures
that all situations are taken into account, especially during alert situations. In
addition, a ship's Ops officer is responsible for providing general status information to
the computer and to individual departments to inform them of any changes that might affect
their normal operations. During alerts, the Ops officer is also responsible for the
allocation of power from the ship's warp reactor and fusion generators to permit the
vessel to meet any demands made of it.
Chief of Security/Tactical Officer (CSO/TactO)
The Chief of Security is in charge of the safety and well-being of the crew and passengers.
The Tactical Officer controls the main defense systems aboard the ship or base. Sometimes
the roles of Chief of Security and Tactical Officer are combined and given to one person.
As the position title notes, Sec/Tac officers have the responsibility for coordinating all
of the internal and external security for a vessel. This includes managing and leading
security teams to provide a constant presence throughout the ship while minimizing
visibility and any minor inconveniences to the crew in addition to the overseeing of a
ship's offensive and defensive capabilities. Security teams may be directed from the
tactical station via keyed instructions or in a meeting-like setting by the Sec/Tac or
ASec/Tac. In addition, special transporting of dignitaries and ambassadorial staff shall
be conducted by the Chief of Security and his/her staff as well as armory inventories,
security team personnel assignments, and detailed counter-intelligence measures to prevent
sabotage or terrorism aboard a starship.
Chief Engineering Officer (CEO)
Sometimes referred to as the Chief Engineer, the Chief Engineering Officer is in charge of
maintaining the ship or base's engineering functions. The Chief Engineer is the department
head to which all junior engineering officers report. As such, he or she is responsible
for the overseeing of all systems of a vessel and making sure that they are kept in prime
operating condition. In addition, the Chief Engineering Officer is also responsible for
coordinating operations with other departments regarding their instruments and systems.
For example, the Chief Engineering Officer shall coordinate all tactical systems with the
Chief of Security and Tactical Officer. Other related duties, such as shipwide diagnostics,
are also coordinated through the Chief Engineering Officer. CEOs may also be called to
participate in away team missions at the discretion of the CO and XO.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
Much like the Chief Engineering Officer is responsible for maintaining the physical
well-being of the ship or base, the Chief Medical Officer shall be responsible for
maintaining the physical well-being of the crew. This is accomplished by scheduling
regular exams of crewmen and by directing a staff of trained personnel in medical
procedures. CMOs are responsible for conducting examinations of all crewmembers assigned
to a vessel on a yearly basis. If necessary, the Chief Medical Officer can be called upon
to coordinate all activities that relate to the physical health of the crew. In addition,
as the seniormost medical authority on a vessel, all field-related missions will require
consultation with the CMO. One of the unique powers given to the Chief Medical Officer is
the ability to relieve a ship's CO of his or her duty if it is determined he or she is
medically unfit. This power is not taken lightly, however, for if the CMO is proven to be
out-of-line, he or she will be accountable for putting the crew in possible danger by
removing the Commanding Officer.
Chief Science Officer (CSciO)
Throughout history, starship crews have encountered dangers in the depths of space. To
give the Commanding Officer and the bridge crew the best chance to avoid violence by
providing them with what may be information integral to their survival, all Starfleet
starships have been outfitted with an array of sensor pallates and telescopes that bring
kiloquads of information into the ship's computer banks every second. Experience has
taught us, however, that the automated systems of a starship cannot always sort the
important from the unimportant information. To solve that problem, Starfleet created
the position of Chief Science Officer. The CSciO is responsible for sorting the data
provided by the ship's sensors and routing it to the necessary ship departments. This
position supplement's the position of Chief of Operations to allow the Ops officer to
concentrate on the allocation of resources and monitoring ship status. (see Ops) In
addition, the Chief Science Officer is the operating authority to a starship's science
department. As such, all department operations are coordinated through the CSciO.
Flight Control Officer (FCO)
The FCO is responsible for the ship or base astrogation and flight control. Although these
functions are primarily automated, their importance requires an officer to oversee them at
all times for the safety of the ship and crew. The FCO recieves his or her orders directly
from the Commanding Officer or the officer presiding over the bridge watch. Areas of
responsibility for the FCO include: navigational references and course plotting,
supervision of automatic flight functions, manual flight operations, and position
verification. During impulse flight, FCOs are responsible for making sure that all
maneuvers stay within the boundaries of the ship's performance envelope. During warp
flight, FCOs are required to monitor the ship's subspace field geometry and oversee
automatic course corrections by the computer to account for minor variations in the
density of interstellar medium.
Counselor (Cns)
Working under the Chief Medical Officer, the CNS is responsible for the psychological
health of the crew. Like the CMO, the Counselor shall conduct annual examinations and
direct a staff of trained psychologists to provide the crew with the ability to seek
out counseling regarding all matters. In addition, all related matters and missions
shall be coordinated with the consultation of the Counselor. The Counselor may also be
called upon by the CO or XO to act as an advisor in volatile situations. As with the
Chief Medical Officer, the Counselor has been given the power to relieve the CO of his
or her duty if he or she is determined to by mentally unfit. If, however, the Counselor
is proven to be incorrect in his or her determination, he or she may be held accountable
for placing the ship at unnecessary risk due to the removal of the Commanding Officer.
Marine Commander (MC)
The Marine Commander is in charge of the starship or starbase's marine complement, if any.
The following personnel are normally assigned to assist.
Support Positions:
- A. Company Sergeant Major: Responsible for all the NCMs in the Company. He/she is the
direct link between the men and the unit commander. Also responsible for the discipline and
proper training of the said men / women.
- B. Aide de Camp: Basically acts as an 'Administrative Assistant'. His job is to take
care of all the little 'day to day' details so the unit commander can put his mind on the
real problems.
- C. Logistics Officer: Responsible to ensure that all the Logistics (material,
equipment, transport, accommodations, etc.) of the teams are fulfilled either on the
starship / starbase or on mission.
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