After the seismic events of Star Trek: Picard season 3, many franchise icons have emerged with new ranks that signify their importance to Starfleet. After spending its first two seasons largely away from Starfleet, Picard season 3 returned most of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation to active Starfleet service as they attempted to thwart a plot against the Federation by the Changelings and the Borg. The TNG cast was assisted by the new, younger crew of the USS Titan-A under the command of Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick).
Rank played a somewhat hazy role in Star Trek: Picard season 3. The USS Titan-A was commanded by several different officers over the season, including Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the latter of whom was technically retired. The Picard series finale “The Last Generation” features a long epilogue that firmly establishes the ranks and career trajectories of most of the show’s main characters.
16 Admiral Jean-Luc Picard
After serving as Captain of the USS Enterprise-D and USS Enterprise-E for well over a decade, Jean-Luc Picard was promoted to Admiral and departed the Enterprise-E to oversee the evacuation of Romulus before a supernova could destroy it. When Starfleet abandoned their plan to save the Romulans, Picard resigned in protest. After the events of Star Trek: Picard season 1, Admiral Picard was reinstated and was chosen to oversee Starfleet Academy as Chancellor. However, by Picard season 3 he had again retired, only to be pulled back into action by a distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). The Picard series finale makes clear Jean-Luc’s days as an active Starfleet officer are likely behind him.
15 Admiral Beverly Crusher
After a long tenure as Captain Picard’s Chief Medical Officer, Beverly Crusher disappeared shortly after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed she left because she was secretly pregnant with Jean-Luc’s son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). Beverly and Jack joined the Mariposas, an organization that attempted to provide medical aid on the outskirts of the Federation. After reconciling with Jean-Luc and proving her medical prowess was sharper than ever in the wake of the Borg attack on Frontier Day, the Picard series finale saw Dr. Crusher promoted to Admiral and put in charge of Starfleet Medical.
14 Admiral Elizabeth Shelby
Elizabeth Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy) made her only previous live-action appearance in the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode “The Best Of Both Worlds” as a young Lieutenant Commander who was a Borg specialist with her eye on Commander Riker’s job. Shelby’s ambition seemingly paid off, as she returned in Star Trek: Picard season 3 as an Admiral in command of the USS Enterprise-F during the Frontier Day festivities. While she was seemingly gunned down on the bridge of the Enterprise-F by her assimilated crew, Picard showrunner Terry Matalas has hinted Shelby could have conceivably survived the attack.
13 Captain William T. Riker
Will Riker spent many years as Jean-Luc Picard’s First Officer and most trusted confidante before he was promoted to Captain at the conclusion of Star Trek: Nemesis. Riker departed the USS Enterprise-E to take command of the USS Titan, the predecessor to Star Trek: Picard season 3’s main vessel. When his son Thad became ill and eventually succumbed to a rare disease, Riker became a reserve officer, spending his days on Nepenthe with his wife Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and daughter Kestra (Lulu Wilson). At the conclusion of Picard season 3, Riker re-enters semi-retirement as he and Troi plan a much-needed vacation around the galaxy.
12 Captain Worf
The beloved Klingon warrior Worf (Michael Dorn) was Captain Picard’s Security Chief on the USS Enterprise-D for many years; when that ship seemingly met its end in Star Trek Generations, Lieutenant Commander Worf transferred to the space station Deep Space Nine, where he played an important role in the Dominion War. He would eventually join the crew of the USS Enterprise-E after the war ended, and he became the ship’s Captain when Picard was promoted and departed the ship. Worf then worked for Starfleet Intelligence in Picard season 3. While Worf still sported a Starfleet uniform and Captain’s pips in Star Trek: Picard season 3’s finale, it is possible he’s no longer an active member of Starfleet.
11 Captain Seven Of Nine
The former Borg drone Seven Of Nine (Jeri Ryan) has had quite the journey over Star Trek: Picard‘s three seasons. Rejected by Starfleet after the events of Star Trek: Voyager, Seven became a Fenris Ranger, attempting to maintain peace and order in the parts of the galaxy the Federation left behind. With the help of Picard and Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Seven earned a Starfleet commission and became the First Officer of the USS Titan-A in Picard season 3. After the death of Captain Liam Shaw at the hands of the Borg, Seven became the Captain of the newly rechristened USS Enterprise-G.
10 Commodore Geordi La Forge
Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) ended up having one of the most successful Starfleet careers of any of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew. The one-time Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise-D and USS Enterprise-E, Geordi had become a Commodore by the time of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Geordi oversaw the Fleet Museum, maintaining and overseeing a collection of some of the most iconic vessels in Starfleet history, including the surprisingly restored Enterprise-D. Of all the TNG alumni, Commodore La Forge might be the most content with his life.
9 Commander Deanna Troi
For most of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deanna Troi held the rank of Lieutenant Commander, though as a therapist she was rarely required to assume a position of military authority. After the TNG season four episode “Disaster” thrust her into command of the USS Enterprise-D during a crisis, she resolved to become a more well-rounded Starfleet officer, eventually being promoted to Commander in the TNG season seven episode “Thine Own Self.” Deanna still maintained the rank of Commander aboard the USS Titan with her husband Captain Will Riker when their son Thad became ill and the pair effectively retired.
8 Commander Raffi Musiker
One of the few original characters from Star Trek: Picard‘s first two seasons to figure prominently in the events of season 3, Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) was one of Admiral Picard’s most trusted advisors when he was coordinating the Romulan evacuation. Raffi endured issues with her estranged family and substance abuse after Picard resigned, but eventually worked her way back into Starfleet’s good graces, becoming an important Starfleet Intelligence asset. By the end of Picard season 3, Commander Musiker was promoted to First Officer of the USS Enterprise-G alongside her friend and former lover, Captain Seven Of Nine.
7 Commander Ro Laren
The troubled Bajoran Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) was introduced in the aptly named Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Ensign Ro.” The young, rebellious Ensign became something of a personal project for Captain Picard. Ro had become a trusted Lieutenant by TNG season 7, but she defected to the terrorist organization the Maquis in the episode “Preemptive Strike.” She surrendered to Starfleet after the Maquis dissolved, and after a second stint in Federation prison, she was brought back into Starfleet as an intelligence officer, eventually earning the rank of Commander. Commander Ro tragically lost her life when her shuttle was destroyed by Changeling operatives.
6 Lieutenant Sidney La Forge
Introduced as the young helmsman of the USS Titan-A, Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) is the daughter of Geordi La Forge, although Sidney aims to forge her own path in the La Forge Starfleet legacy. While clearly respected by Captain Shaw, Sidney is close with Commander Seven, referring to her by her preferred Borg name instead of her human name against the wishes of the Borg-phobic Shaw. Sidney spent most of Star Trek: Picard season 3 as an Ensign, though by the time the USS Enterprise-G was refitted and ready for new adventures she had been promoted to Lieutenant.
5 Lieutenant Matthew Mura
Lieutenant Matthew Mura (Joseph Lee) was the Tactical Officer aboard the USS Titan-A. A Bajoran, Mura didn’t get a tremendous amount to say in Star Trek: Picard season 3, though he was a constant, capable presence on the bridge all season. His defining moment was standing up to Captain Vadic (Amanda Plummer) as she pointed a phaser at his head; Mura tearfully admitted his son would miss him, but he would never betray his code as a Starfleet officer. Lieutenant Mura remains under Captain Seven’s command aboard the USS Enterprise-G, ready for new adventures.
4 Ensign Jack Crusher
The son of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, Jack Crusher ended up being the key factor to the plot against the Federation by the Changelings and the Borg, as they attempted to create a new breed of the cybernetic zombies through Jack’s unique DNA. Picard and his friends were eventually able to save Jack and defeat the Borg seemingly for good. A year after the events of Frontier Day, Jack joined the crew of the USS Enterprise-G after being fast-tracked through Starfleet Academy and earning the rank of Ensign. He’s set to serve as Special Counselor to the Captain aboard the ship.
3 Ensign Kova Esmar
Another constant presence on the bridge of the USS Titan-A, Ensign Kova Esmar (Jin Maley) served as the ship’s Communications Officer for the majority of Star Trek: Picard season 3. The non-binary Haliian heroically faced down Captain Vadic with tears in their eyes as the Changeling leader demanded they turn over Jack Crusher. Esmar was also a victim of the biological Borg virus, and actually took command of the Titan-A while infected, though they were restored when the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) was destroyed. Ensign Esmar remains aboard the USS Enterprise-G as one of Captain Seven’s valued bridge officers.
2 Ensign Alandra La Forge
The current rank of Alandra La Forge (Mica Burton) is a bit hazy. Introduced as an Ensign, Alandra was stationed at the Fleet Museum alongside her father, Commodore Geordi La Forge. At one point in the Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode “Dominion,” Admiral Picard refers to Alandra as “Lieutenant,” but this was almost certainly an error, as she clearly is sporting the single rank pip of an Ensign. Alandra is not revisited in the epilogue of “The Last Generation” set a year after the majority of season 3, so her rank and current assignment are likely questions that would be answered by a potential Star Trek: Legacy spinoff.
1 Data
The beloved android Data (Brent Spiner) was a Lieutenant Commander who was about to be promoted to First Officer of the USS Enterprise-E when he sacrificed himself in Star Trek: Nemesis. Star Trek: Picard season 3 saw Data resurrected in a decidedly more human form, with all the memories and experiences from his previous life. Data has technically been out of commission for two decades, so he would probably require some sort of retraining before becoming an active member of Starfleet again. That said, the events of Star Trek: Picard season 3 confirm this version of Data is still more than capable as a Starfleet officer.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+.
