It tookStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) 15 years to become a starship captain, and he is still waiting for a promotion to admiral duringStar Trek: Picard. ThroughoutTNGand its subsequent films, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) commanded the USS Enterprise-D for eighteen years, and Commander Riker served as his First Officer for almost all of them. Riker enjoyed serving alongside Picard on the Enterprise so much that he turned down numerous opportunities for his own command.
Commander Riker finally accepted a promotion to captain inStar Trek: Nemesisand took over command of the USS Titan, but he still had moments where he missed being on the Enterprise.Riker commanded the Titanthroughout much of the 2380s, butby 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, butThad 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 inStar Trek: Picardseason 1, but he still holds the rank of captain by theend ofStar Trek: Picardseason 3. Riker took over command of the USS Titan in 2379 and the finale ofPicardtakes place in 2402, meaningRiker 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.
Will Riker’s Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s William Riker had a long and accomplished Starfleet career even after his time on Captain Picard’s USS Enterprise-D.
InStar Trek: Picardseason 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 entireTNGcrew was pulled into a fight against a Borg/Changeling plot to destroy Starfleet. After the events ofPicardseason 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 beenpromoted to CommodorebeforePicardseason 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 throughoutStar Trek: The Next Generationthat Riker loves being at the heart of the action. Because of this and because he enjoyed serving with Captain Picard andStar 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 onTNG.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 wait for a promotion to admiral may seem long, but Jean-Luc Picard held the rank of captain for about 48 years, from 2333 to 2381.
Riker’s promotion could have come earlier, but his character’s journey inStar Trek: Picardseason 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 throughoutStar Trek: The Next Generation,so he likely won’t accept a promotion to admiral until the perfect opportunity presents itself.
