One of the most rewarding parts of Star Trek is watching its characters rise through the ranks at Starfleet. Any time an officer is given command of their own starship, it’s always treated as a landmark moment. However, for various reasons, it doesn’t happen for everyone. Whether an officer dies before they get the chance to hit that milestone, isn’t ever canonically confirmed to get there, or just has no desire to lead, some of the best in Starfleet never make it past a certain point in their careers.

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