5 Of Star Trek’s Best Admirals Were Enterprise Captains

Five Captains of the USS Enterprise became Admirals in Star Trek. As the flagship of the United Federation of Planets, the Starship Enterprise is perhaps the most coveted assignment for a Starfleet Captain. To command the Enterprise means being part of a storied legacy that began in the 22nd century of Star Trek: Enterprise and continues into the 32nd century of Star Trek: Discovery. Unsurprisingly, distinguished and exemplary performance in the Enterprise's center seat can lead to career advancement to the rank of Starfleet Admiral.

Becoming an Admiral isn't necessarily the goal of the Captains of the USS Enterprise. Giving up the excitement of exploring strange new worlds and the chance to make history to become a deskbound decision-maker at Starfleet headquarters doesn't always sit well with Enterprise Captains-turned-Admirals. While certain Captains proved amendable to becoming a flag officer, other Enterprise head honchos became restless and yearned to get back to the Captain's chair. Yet each Enterprise Captain who became an Admiral was great in their own way.

Admiral Archer From Star Trek: Enterprise

Archer Was Also The First Federation President

Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) was the first Captain of the Starship Enterprise to get promoted to Admiral. Star Trek: Enterprise only chronicled four years of Captain Archer's ten-year stint commanding the NX-01 Enterprise. As seen in Star Trek: Enterprise's controversial series finale, "These Are The Voyages," Captain Archer delivered the pivotal remarks that began the founding of the United Federation of Planets in the 22nd century. Archer's historic voyages formed the crucial alliances that formed the early Federation.

Star Trek has not canonically shown Jonathan Archer as a Starfleet Admiral in a TV series or movie. J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009) name-dropped Admiral Archer in the alternate Kelvin Timeline. However, since Archer becoming an Admiral preceded the creation of the Kelvin Timeline, this does make Admiral Archer official Star Trek canon. Jonathan Archer is also recognized as the first President of the United Federation of Planets after he became an Admiral.

Admiral Robert April From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

April Was The First 23rd Century Captain Of The Enterprise

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Admiral Robert April (Adrian Holmes) is the first Captain of the Constitution Class USS Enterprise in the 23rd century. April commanded the Enterprise on a lone five-year mission before accepting a promotion to Admiral and passing Captaincy of the starship to his First Officer (Christopher Pike). In Strange New Worlds, April is Captain Pike's immediate superior and shoulders the burden of Starfleet's most crucial operations, like preventing a potential war with the Gorn.

Captain Robert April was introduced in Star Trek: The Animated Series, although the cartoon version was an older Caucasian male. Strange New Worlds canonically reimagined April as a Black Admiral. Regardless, Admiral April is a smart and efficient leader and a trusted advocate of Captain Pike and the Starship Enterprise. Admiral April's first priority is to safeguard Starfleet and the Federation, but he is willing to look the other way and trusts Pike to do what needs to be done in a crisis.

Admiral Christopher Pike From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds & Star Trek Into Darkness

Pike Only Becomes An Admiral In Alternate Realities

In Star Trek's Prime timeline, Captain Christopher Pike does not become a Starfleet Admiral. Pike's highest rank achieved is Fleet Captain, as established in Star Trek: The Original Series' two-parter, "The Menagerie." After he gives up being Captain of the Enterprise, Fleet Captain Pike (Sean Kenney) is seriously wounded by delta rays while saving a group of Starfleet cadets. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and the USS Enterprise commanded by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) delivered Fleet Captain Pike to Talos IV to live out the rest of his life.

However, Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) is promoted to Admiral in Star Trek Into Darkness' alternate Kelvin timeline. The mentor of Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Admiral Pike is murdered by Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale introduced an alternate future timeline where Admiral Pike (Anson Mount) fights a generational war against the Romulans. However, this future was erased by the actions of the Prime timeline's Captain Pike.

Admiral James T. Kirk From Star Trek: The Motion Picture To Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Kirk Is The Only Admiral Who Gets Demoted Back To Captain

Star Trek: The Motion Picture introduced Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Promoted to Rear Admiral after completing Star Trek: The Original Series' five-year mission, Kirk became Chief of Starfleet Operations. However, Admiral Kirk yearned to be back in the center seat of his beloved Starship Enterprise. Kirk abused his power as Admiral to install himself as Captain of the Enterprise, commanding the refitted Constiution Clsss starship in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Admiral Kirk stole the USS Enterprise and self-destructed it to keep his ship from falling into Klingon hands in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. After saving Earth in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Admiral Kirk answered for his crimes, and Starfleet Command demoted Kirk to Captain. Jim was assigned the USS Enterprise-A and continued his heart's desire to command a starship. Kirk ultimately wasn't suited to the Admiralty, and being Captain of the Enterprise was his first, best destiny.

Admiral Jean-Luc Picard From Star Trek: Picard

Picard Becomes Chancellor Of Starfleet Academy

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) commanded the USS Enterprise-D and E for seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and four TNG movies. Star Trek: Picard season 1 revealed that Starfleet promoted Picard to Admiral in 2381 after Star Trek: Nemesis. Admiral Picard's mission was to lead the Federation's evacuation of the Romulans from their sun going supernova. However, Picard quit Starfleet in protest when the Federation revoked its mission.

In Star Trek: Picard season 2, Admiral Picard was named Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, a position he maintained in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Admiral Picard proved to be restless in retirement but also past his prime as Captain of a starship. Still, Admiral Picard had the desire and ability to continue saving the galaxy, and Jean-Luc got to command the USS Enterprise-D to defeat the Borg one final time in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Which future Captain of the Enterprise will follow Jean-Luc Picard to become a Star Trek Admiral remains to be seen.