Second officer

Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)

The second officer of a starship assumed command of the ship when both the captain and first officer were unavailable. Typically a second officer on a Starfleet vessel held the rank of commander or lieutenant commander. It was common for a second officer to be a department head aboard the ship first, since the role of second officer was considered a nominal position. He or she was rarely involved in the day to day command of the starship or starbase the way the captain or first officer was.

It was standard procedure for the second officer to accompany the away team. (TNG: "Time's Arrow")

In 2364, Ferengi protocol was to offer their second officers when surrendering. (TNG: "The Last Outpost")

On Klingon ships, first officers were called upon to ensure their incapacitated captains died an honorable death. In 2365, Worf explained to William T. Riker that should he also become unable to perform while serving as an exchange officer, his second officer would kill him. (TNG: "A Matter Of Honor")

When the Satarran agent using the alias of Kieran MacDuff commandeered the USS Enterprise-D in 2368, he altered the computer records so that the ship's rightful first officer, Commander William T. Riker, was listed as the second officer. (TNG: "Conundrum")

Some noted second officers in Starfleet history were:

• Commander Charles Tucker III of Enterprise NX-01
• Lieutenant Spock of the USS Enterprise
• Lieutenant Commander Saru of the USS Shenzhou
• Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott of the USS Enterprise
• Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise-D and the USS Enterprise-E
• Lieutenant Commander Worf of Deep Space 9
• Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander) Jadzia Dax of the USS Defiant
• Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Commander) Tuvok of the USS Voyager

Second officers

Commander Tucker

Lieutenant Spock

Saru (2256).jpg

Lieutenant Commander Saru

Lieutenant Commander Scott

Lieutenant Commander Data

Lieutenant Commander Worf

Lieutenant / Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax

Lieutenant / Lieutenant Commander Tuvok

List of second officers

• Lieutenant Commander Data
  • USS Enterprise-D
  • USS Enterprise-E
• Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax
  • USS Defiant
• Lieutenant Klag
  • IKS Pagh
• Rata
  • Bok's Marauder
• Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott
  • USS Enterprise
• Spock
  • USS Enterprise (according to his alternate reality obituary)
• Timothy's father
  • SS Vico
• Commander Charles Tucker III
  • Enterprise NX-01
• Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
  • USS Voyager
• Lieutenant Commander Worf
  • Deep Space 9
• Major Malcolm Reed
  • ISS Enterprise

This chart shows only general equivalencies based on the ranks used by many governments on Earth, as well as the rest of the galaxy.