Picard was offered a promotion to admiral as early as Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 (in episode 19, "Coming of Age"), but he elected to remain on the Enterprise-D longer than many captains. Not only was the Enterprise a particularly special ship, but Picard also came to see his crew as his family. Like Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) before him, Picard loved the adventure that came with being a Starship Captain, particularly the captain of the Enterprise. Picard did not accept a promotion to admiral until 2381, 48 years after he was promoted to captain.
Jean-Luc Picard Was A Starfleet Captain For Almost 50 Years
Picard Became Captain Of The Stargazer In 2333, At The Age Of 28
Jean-Luc Picard began attending Starfleet Academy in 2323, becoming one of the most successful cadets in his class. As an ensign, Picard was stationed on the USS Reliant and transferred to various ships before landing a position as a helmsman on the USS Stargazer sometime before 2333. In that year, the Stargazer's captain was killed during a mission, and Starfleet granted Picard a field promotion to captain. Picard was one of the youngest Starfleet officers to achieve the rank of captain and he remained in command of the Stargazer for an impressive 22 years.
When Picard took over command of the USS Enterprise-D in 2363, he was already one of Starfleet's most impressive captains. Between the Enterprise-D and the Enterprise-E, Picard was a captain for 18 more years, until he finally accepted a promotion to admiral in 2381. This means Jean-Luc Picard was a Starfleet captain for 48 years, much longer than any other Star Trek captain we've seen. Star Trek has not officially stated whether Picard is the longest-serving Starfleet captain, but he must be close (at least among humans).
Picard Was Captain Of 3 Famous Star Trek Ships
Picard Commanded The Stargazer, The Enterprise-D, & The Enterprise-E
Although not much has been revealed about Picard's time in command of the Stargazer, several events that occurred during that time shaped the captain. In 2353, Picard was forced to make a decision on an away mission that led to the death of Jack Crusher (Doug Wert). Two years later, the Stargazer was attacked by an unknown enemy, and Picard escaped using a unique tactic that made the Stargazer appear in two locations at once. This move was later coined the "Picard Maneuver," and although it saved the ship's crew, the Stargazer was abandoned in space and believed lost.
Captain Picard took over command of the newly commissioned Galaxy-class Enterprise-D in 2363 and remained in command until the ship's destruction in 2371 in Star Trek Generations. While Captain of the Enterprise, Picard initiated first contact with 27 alien species, including the Ferengi and the Borg. After the loss of the Enterprise-D, Picard transferred to the Enterprise-E, choosing to remain a captain when he likely could have become an admiral. Picard remained in command of the Enterprise-E until around 2381 when he finally accepted a promotion.
Picard Was A Better Captain Than A Starfleet Admiral
Jean-Luc Picard Was Born To Be A Starship Captain
Star Trek: Picard caught up with Admiral Jean-Luc Picard in 2399, offering insight into his time as an admiral and his subsequent retirement. It should come as no surprise that retirement did not exactly suit Jean-Luc, but it turns out he wasn't made to be an admiral either. In one of his most significant acts as an admiral, Picard oversaw the construction of a massive rescue fleet to evacuate the Romulans before their sun went supernova. When rogue synths attacked the Mars shipyards in 2385, Starfleet called off the evacuation efforts, leading Picard to resign in protest.
At the time, Admiral Picard believed that Starfleet would heed his request rather than accept his resignation, but he turned out to be mistaken. Ultimately, Picard had more leeway (and more adventures) as a captain traveling the galaxy exploring new worlds than he ever did as an admiral. Like many of Starfleet's best captains, Picard was born to command a starship and that is where he truly excelled. For many Star Trek fans, Jean-Luc Picard will always be most remembered as the thoughtful, intelligent, and exceptional captain of the USS Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
