Data never served as 1st officer by true promotion but was interim 1st officer of Enterprise for one month during a period of Riker’s capture by an alien species. He was an interim Captain at one point during a Romulan incursion. He served several actual official promotion positions on Enterprise including navigator, operations manager, chief science officer and second officer. Even in those moments that he had command of the bridge his official title was always as second officer.
In the final film “Nemesis” Picard, not sure Riker was alive, makes Data 1st Officer and gives full command of the damaged Enterprise E to Data before having himself beamed over to confront Shinzon and his thorion weapon. Data holds that postition for about 5 seconds and transfers command and command codes to Commander Troi before jumping through space to Shinzon’s ship where Data is then destroyed in the thorion reactor explosion.
In Star Trek novels & some video games he does hold the rank of 1st Officer, however, they are not considered official canon.
Kira was never part of Starfleet or a commissioned Starfleet officer. She served as 1st officer representing the Bajoran government, new owners of the station. She served as Sisko’s liaison officer but always served with Bajoran interests first and foremost.
Morgothik says
How could you guys pick anyone but Spock?
BigMack from PDX says
Because Riker was cool, and got the girl in the end! And anyone man enough for Troi, you gotta give props to.
Morgothik says
Hahaha! Good answer!
Andrew says
What? No Data?
Sam Sloan says
Data never served as 1st officer by true promotion but was interim 1st officer of Enterprise for one month during a period of Riker’s capture by an alien species. He was an interim Captain at one point during a Romulan incursion. He served several actual official promotion positions on Enterprise including navigator, operations manager, chief science officer and second officer. Even in those moments that he had command of the bridge his official title was always as second officer.
In the final film “Nemesis” Picard, not sure Riker was alive, makes Data 1st Officer and gives full command of the damaged Enterprise E to Data before having himself beamed over to confront Shinzon and his thorion weapon. Data holds that postition for about 5 seconds and transfers command and command codes to Commander Troi before jumping through space to Shinzon’s ship where Data is then destroyed in the thorion reactor explosion.
In Star Trek novels & some video games he does hold the rank of 1st Officer, however, they are not considered official canon.
Michael Hickerson says
Because if the novels were canon we could vote for Shelby in the superlative New Frontier series!
ski says
no ds9 love .I thought Kira was way better than Riker
Samuel Sloan says
Kira was never part of Starfleet or a commissioned Starfleet officer. She served as 1st officer representing the Bajoran government, new owners of the station. She served as Sisko’s liaison officer but always served with Bajoran interests first and foremost.