Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Wall Of Heroes – 10 Biggest Surprises

The book Star Trek: Starfleet Academy shares surprising updates on the fates of many well-known Star Trek characters. Set in the year 3195, the story features a historical wall within the USS Athena that commemorates a thousand years of Starfleet’s past, starting in the 22nd century.

Recently released high-resolution photos of the Wall of Heroes at the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy exhibit have sparked a fun search among Star Trek fans to determine the ranks of their beloved characters. Interestingly, the wall features not only fictional characters but also real-life people who worked on Star Trek, including Alex Kurtzman, Gaia Violo, Noga Landau, and Rod Roddenberry, all with the rank of Admiral or Fleet Admiral.

The Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes includes some unexpected characters, like Midshipman Peter Preston (from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), and Ensigns Robin Lefler and Sito Jaxa (both from Star Trek: The Next Generation). Joshua Albert, a cadet who died while training in The Next Generation, is also honored on the Wall.

The Wall of Heroes at Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is still under development and doesn’t include everyone you might expect. However, some of the ranks given to the honored figures are surprising. Here’s a look at the biggest rank-related surprises on the Wall of Heroes.

10. Riker Never Becomes Admiral But Jonathan Frakes Does

Everyone remembers Captain William T. Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, as a Starfleet hero, but many fans are surprised he never achieved the rank of Admiral. Jonathan Frakes himself imagined Admiral Riker giving orders to Captain Seven of Nine and the crew of the USS Enterprise-G if the planned series, Star Trek: Legacy, had been produced.

Interestingly, Jonathan Frakes, the actor who plays Riker, is now portrayed as an Admiral in the game Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. While the Riker of an alternate future briefly held the rank of Admiral in the Star Trek: The Next Generation finale, “All Good Things…”, the main timeline’s Riker ultimately reaches the rank of Captain.

9. Ambassador Garak?

Custom image by Ana Nieves

It’s unexpected to see Elim Garak, the Cardassian spy from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine who later claimed to be just a tailor, honored on Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes as an Ambassador. Andrew Robinson played the character.

In the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Garak went back to Cardassia to assist in rebuilding after the Dominion War. The reason Starfleet Academy personnel recognized him is likely because Elim Garak later became the Federation Ambassador to Cardassia.

8. Tawny Newsome Is Ranked Higher Than Her Star Trek: Lower Decks Character

Tawny Newsome is honored at Starfleet Academy, appearing on their Wall of Heroes both as herself and as her character, Beckett Mariner, from Star Trek: Lower Decks. Fittingly, Mariner, who always avoided promotions, reached the rank of Starfleet Commander within the show. However, Tawny Newsome herself was given the much higher rank of Admiral.

Tawny Newsome became a key creative contributor to the Star Trek universe after voicing Mariner in Star Trek: Lower Decks. She went on to co-produce and write for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and even co-wrote an episode of Lower Decks – episode 5 – which paid homage to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

7. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ La’an & Ortegas Stay Lieutenants

Filming has finished on the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. However, a display at Starfleet Academy – the Wall of Heroes – seems to reveal the future fates of some of the USS Enterprise crew. Surprisingly, the wall indicates that La’an Noonien-Singh (played by Christina Chong) and Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) both remain at the rank of Lieutenant throughout their careers.

The fact that Ortegas and La’an remain Lieutenants is a worrying sign for their futures after Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as neither of them continues to serve on the Starship Enterprise with Captain James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley). Additionally, the apparent absence of Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) from the Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes is another troubling detail.

6. Dr. Julian Bashir Stays A Lieutenant While Only One Dax Appears On Starfleet Academy’s Wall

Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes honors many renowned doctors who achieved high ranks, including Admirals Leonard McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley and Thomas Jane) and Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), as well as Commander Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, Jess Bush) and Lt. Commander Joseph M’Benga (Booker Bradshaw, Babs Olusanmokun).

It’s strange that Dr. Julian Bashir on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine remained a Lieutenant, even after becoming Chief Medical Officer. His career seems to have stalled, and it’s possible that the revelation of his genetic engineering held back his advancement in Starfleet.

Jadzia Dax, a former Starfleet officer played by Terry Farrell, was honored with a place on Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes. However, her successor, Ezri Dax (played by Nicole DeBoer), wasn’t. The series ended with Ezri and Dr. Bashir becoming a couple, leaving fans wondering what happened to them and their careers after leaving Deep Space Nine.

5. Nog Never Becomes Captain

It’s deeply sad and surprising that Nog (played by Aron Eisenberg) never achieved a higher rank than Lieutenant. Though Aron Eisenberg sadly passed away in 2019, his character remained part of the official Star Trek story. Many fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine expected Nog, the first Ferengi to join Starfleet and a very talented officer, to eventually become a Captain, but he remained a Lieutenant throughout his career.

As a long-time Trek fan, I have to admit the idea of Nog becoming a Captain, as explored in the fascinating documentary What We Left Behind, was a bit of a shock – especially considering the tragic way it played out. But it got me thinking: officially, what does happen to Nog after the end of Deep Space Nine and his time in Starfleet? It’s a question that’s lingered with me since seeing that documentary, and one I’m eager to see addressed.

The show Star Trek: Discovery recently honored the character Nog – the first Ferengi to join Starfleet, and the actor who portrayed him – by naming a starship after him. The ship is called the USS Nog, and it’s an Eisenberg Class vessel. This is a special recognition for Nog, despite the fact that he didn’t achieve a high rank during his time in Starfleet.

4. Star Trek: Enterprise’s Helmsman Becomes Captain

It was a nice surprise to see Captain Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) from Star Trek: Enterprise honored on the wall of heroes at Starfleet Academy. As the original helmsman of the NX-01 Enterprise, it’s wonderful to see his career progressed to the rank of Captain.

Travis is now honored alongside Captain Jonathan Archer, Commander Charles Tucker III, and Lt. Commander Hoshi Sato on the Wall of Heroes at Starfleet Academy.

It’s interesting to note that Lieutenant Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating) and Doctor Phlox (John Billingsley) aren’t featured on the Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes. Subcommander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), who joined Starfleet later in the series Star Trek: Enterprise, is also missing from the display.

3. Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Tendi Becomes A Captain But Boimler Is Missing

Captain Carol Freeman and Admiral Alonzo Freeman from Star Trek: Lower Decks have been honored with a place on Starfleet Academy’s Wall of Heroes. Joining them is Captain D’Vana Tendi, a cheerful addition who impressively rose through the ranks from her beginnings as a lower deck crew member on the USS Cerritos. Tendi’s passion for Starfleet made her success especially rewarding.

It’s strange that Bradward Boimler (Jack Quaid) and his transporter clone, Captain William Boimler – who travels the multiverse – aren’t featured on the Wall of Heroes. Brad always dreamed of becoming a Captain, or even achieving a higher rank. So, what happened to Bradward after the events of Star Trek: Lower Decks?

2. What Happens To Star Trek: Prodigy Characters

Characters from Star Trek: Prodigy are now featured on the Wall of Heroes at Starfleet Academy. This suggests that Gwyndala (played by Ella Purnell) successfully became a Federation Ambassador, representing her people—a detail hinted at by Star Trek: Prodigy co-executive producer Aaron J. Waltke on Threads.

Ambassador Gwyndala is reunited with her old crew from the USS Prodigy: Commander Zero the Third (Angus Imrie) and Lt. Commander Rok’Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui). Their appearances confirm that the young heroes of Star Trek: Prodigy are still alive and well, despite The Doctor (Robert Picardo) seeming surprised to hear Gwyndala’s name in the first episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. This eases concerns that something bad happened to the USS Prodigy and its crew.

Hopefully, the future of Dal R’El (Brett Gray), Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas), Murf (Dee Bradley Baker), and Maj’el (Michaela Dietz) will be explored in a future installment of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

1. Star Trek: Voyager’s Eternal Ensign Gets Starfleet’s Highest Rank

Fans of Star Trek: Voyager will be thrilled to see Admiral Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) honored on the Wall of Heroes at Starfleet Academy. The USS Voyager’s long-serving Ensign finally achieved the rank of Admiral within the official Star Trek storyline. He now joins Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran), and Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) among those recognized on the Wall.

It’s interesting to note that after Star Trek: Voyager ended, Harry Kim’s friend Tom Paris (played by Robert Duncan McNeill) remained a Lieutenant. Meanwhile, Paris’ wife, B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), is shown as a Lieutenant Commander on the Wall of Heroes in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It’s possible that after returning to Earth, Torres and Riker focused on their personal life together rather than continuing to pursue higher ranks in Starfleet.

2026-01-22 04:53