Commander Riker finally accepted a promotion to captain in Star Trek: Nemesis and took over command of the USS Titan, but he still had moments where he missed being on the Enterprise. Riker commanded the Titan throughout much of the 2380s, but by 2399, he and his wife, Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) had settled on Nepenthe. To aid their termainally ill son, Thad, Riker and Troi moved to Nepenthe due to the planet's supposed healing properties, but Thad Riker tragically still passed away. Will had left active duty service in Starfleet by this time, but Riker couldn't stay away for long.
Captain Riker Is Waiting Even Longer For His Promotion To Admiral
Riker Has Been Waiting Around 23 Years For His Latest Promotion
Captain Will Riker returned to Starfleet active duty in Star Trek: Picard season 1, but he still holds the rank of captain by the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3. Riker took over command of the USS Titan in 2379 and the finale of Picard takes place in 2402, meaning Riker has been a captain for 23 years. Even taking the time Riker went off duty into consideration, that is a long time for a Starfleet officer to wait for a promotion. Throughout his time on the Starship Enterprise, Riker proved to be an exemplary officer time and again, but it still took him 15 years to become a captain.
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Admiral Picard recruited Riker for an impromptu rescue mission after receiving a distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Over the course of the season, the entire TNG crew was pulled into a fight against a Borg/Changeling plot to destroy Starfleet. After the events of Picard season 3, Dr. Crusher received a promotion to admiral, but Riker remains a captain. Incidentally, Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) also outranks Riker, as he had been promoted to Commodore before Picard season 3.
Why Riker’s Admiral Promotion Is Taking Even Longer Than Becoming Captain
Riker's Break From Active Duty Likely Delayed His Promotion To Admiral
It's obvious throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation that Riker loves being at the heart of the action. Because of this and because he enjoyed serving with Captain Picard and Star Trek: The Next Generation's USS Enterprise crew, Riker chose to remain a first officer longer than most. It's possible Riker was offered a promotion to admiral at some point and turned it down, just as he did on TNG. He simply doesn't seem like the type of person who would enjoy a desk job. Still, without a command of his own, a promotion to admiral would make sense.
Riker's promotion could have come earlier, but his character's journey in Star Trek: Picard season 3 serves as the perfect setup for a future promotion to admiral. Riker and Troi have rekindled their relationship and are preparing to go on a vacation with their daughter, Kestra (Lulu Wilson), after which Riker seems ready to return to active duty. Still, Riker waited 15 years for a command position throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, so he likely won't accept a promotion to admiral until the perfect opportunity presents itself.
