A specialist was any highly-trained individual or expert who worked as a professional in a particular field of study. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command", "First Contact") Only certain key Starfleet specialists were allowed to handle stasis boxes. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")
In 2256, Captain Gabriel Lorca invited Michael Burnham, stripped of rank after a court martial, to join the bridge crew of USS Discovery as a science specialist. (DIS: "Lethe") Burnham's official rank was later restored as part of a pardon, rendering this unofficial rank redundant. (DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?")
Robert Tomlinson held the title of specialist in 2266. (TOS: "Balance of Terror")
In 2267, James T. Kirk told the Organian Council of Elders that the Federation could send them specialists and technicians. (TOS: "Errand of Mercy")
In 2268, Rojan singled out Shea and Leslie Thompson for destruction because he needed Kirk, Spock, and Leonard McCoy, all of whom were specialists, unlike the other two. (TOS: "By Any Other Name")
Lieutenant Mira Romaine was a specialist lieutenant. (TOS: "The Lights of Zetar")
Hikaru Sulu was recognized by the followers of Doctor Sevrin as a "specialist in weapons and navigation." (TOS: "The Way to Eden")
As of 2269, Starbase 2 had specialists who could better diagnose and treat Janice Lester than the Benecia Colony could. (TOS: "Turnabout Intruder")
In 2269, Lucien described himself as having been "the generalist amid all the specialists." Asmodeus also described himself as "a specialist in the ethics of magic", which rendered him suitable to serve as prosecutor at the trial for members of USS Enterprise's crew. (TAS: "The Magicks of Megas-Tu")
Later that year, the Vedala sent for several specialists, including Kirk and Spock, for a critical mission. (TAS: "The Jihad")
Neuro-specialist Dr. Toby Russell specialized in spinal injuries like Worf's 2368 accident. (TNG: "Ethics")
Types of specialists[]
- Occupational
- Briefing specialist (TNG: "The Icarus Factor")
- Chief exobiology specialist (VOY: "Nothing Human")
- Child specialist (TOS: "And the Children Shall Lead")
- Engineering specialist (TOS: "Space Seed")
- EPS control specialist (ENT: "The Forgotten")
- First contact specialist (DIS: "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum")
- Hydraulics specialist (TNG: "Home Soil")
- Language specialist (ENT: "Observer Effect")
- Medical specialist (TOS: "Space Seed"; TNG: "Conundrum")
- Mission specialist (TNG: "Tin Man", "The Game")
- Neuro-specialist (TNG: "Ethics")
- Obstetrics specialist (TNG: "Lessons")
- Plasma specialist (TNG: "The Game")
- Protein specialist (ST: "The Trouble with Edward")
- Science specialist (DIS: "Lethe"; TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome")
- Starship design specialist (VOY: "Non Sequitur")
- Thermionics specialist (VOY: "Workforce")
- Warp field specialist (ENT: "Affliction", "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; TNG: "Family", "Suspicions")
- Weapons specialist (Star Trek Into Darkness; TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
- Rated
Starfleet specialists[]
Non-commissioned specialists[]
- Chief Petty Officer Sergey Rozhenko (Warp field specialist)
- Chief Petty Officer Miles O'Brien (Senior chief specialist)
- Specialist (NC-4) Alfonse Pacelli (Spec. 6 Data Flow Management Systems)
- Crewman John B. Watkins (Engineer, Grade 4)
- Crewman Tal Celes (Sensor Analyst, Grade 3)
- Crewman Jane Taylor (EPS control specialist)
- Kosinski (Propulsion expert)
- Michael Burnham (Science specialist; former Starfleet officer, stripped of rank; lost title in favor of former rank after pardon)
- Ash Tyler (as a Section 31 liaison to USS Discovery; Tyler previously held the rank of lieutenant.)
Specialist officers[]
- Lt. Daniel Kwan (Spec. 5 Warp Field Dynamics)
- Lt. Walter Pierce (Spec. 5 Linear Warp Containment Systems)
- Lt. Mira Romaine
- Lt. Robert Tomlinson
- Lt. Darien Wallace (Spec. 3 Life Support Systems)
- Lt. Anaanda Ziff (Spec. 5 Physical Research / Quantum Mechanics)
- Ensign Lois R. Eckridge (Spec. 3 Emergency Medical Assistant)
- Ensign Marla Finn (Spec. 2 Warp Field Stabilization Systems)
- Ensign Harry Kim (Starship design specialist)
- Ensign Robin Lefler (Mission specialist)
- Ensign Bruno Salvatore (Spec. 4 Biomechanical Research)