Ops (Duty Post): Difference between revisions

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The '''Operations Duty Post''' is one of the most flexible and demanding of the bride postings. The role can vary significantly depending on the individual's rank, specialty, and the needs of the ship or station.  An operations officer's primary responsibility is to ensure a ship and crew are able to perform the mission at hand. While that leaves a great deal of flexibility, operations officers are focused on coordinating manpower, hardware, and supplies at the direction of the captain and first officer. Many shipboard operations involve scheduling shared people, resources, or hardware (such as the use of sensors) that affect multiple of departments, commonly presenting conflicting requirements. An operations officer must schedule and prioritize resource allocations (including physical resources like phasers or conference rooms, technical resources like energy or computer time, and personnel resources like away teams) so that the most critical activities can have every chance of success. Having a crew member in this decision-making loop is or crucial importance because of the wide range of unpredictable situations with which a starship must deal.
The '''Operations Duty Post''' is one of the most flexible and demanding of the bride postings. The role can vary significantly depending on the individual's rank, specialty, and the needs of the ship or station.  An operations officer's primary responsibility is to ensure a ship and crew are able to perform the mission at hand. While that leaves a great deal of flexibility, operations officers are focused on coordinating manpower, hardware, and supplies at the direction of the captain and first officer. Many shipboard operations involve scheduling shared people, resources, or hardware (such as the use of sensors) that affect multiple of departments, commonly presenting conflicting requirements. An operations officer must schedule and prioritize resource allocations (including physical resources like phasers or conference rooms, technical resources like energy or computer time, and personnel resources like away teams) so that the most critical activities can have every chance of success. Having a crew member in this decision-making loop is or crucial importance because of the wide range of unpredictable situations with which a starship must deal.


Personnel in this role are called the "Operations Manager," "Ops Officer," or "Chief of Operations." Typically, Ops is manned by a member of the command staff of a starship, regardless of seniority. On the [[ma:USS Enterprise-D|USS Enterprise-D]], Ops Manager Data (who doubled as second officer) was the most senior member of the ship's staff save the captain and XO, but on [[ma:USS Voyager|USS Voyager]], Ops Manager Harry Kim was the most junior bridge officer. In many ways, an operations officer is the ultimate "power user" of any ship and its systems, well-versed in the sensors, computer, and hardware of the ship. Where an engineer is expected to have detailed physical and design knowledge required to maintain a ship, a Ops officer is expected to focus more on a big-picture view of how systems work together and how existing hardware might be applied to new situations as they arise. They must also ensure that the crew is capable of operating and maintaining that equipement.
Personnel in this role are called the "Operations Manager," "Ops Officer," or "Chief of Operations." Typically, Ops is manned by a member of the command staff of a starship, regardless of seniority. On the [[ma:USS Enterprise-D|USS Enterprise-D]], Ops Manager Data (who doubled as second officer) was the most senior member of the ship's staff save the captain and XO, but on [[ma:USS Voyager|USS Voyager]], Ops Manager Harry Kim was the most junior bridge officer. In many ways, an operations officer is the ultimate "power user" of any ship and its systems, well-versed in the sensors, computer, and hardware of the ship. Where an engineer is expected to have detailed physical and design knowledge required to maintain a ship, a Ops officer is expected to focus more on a big-picture view of how systems work together and how existing hardware might be applied to new situations as they arise. They must also ensure that the crew is capable of operating and maintaining that equipment.


Operations officers frequently choose to specialize and add engineering, science, tactical, diplomatic, legal, communications, or command expertise to their broad-ranging base training. This specialty, as well as the needs of a ship, can frequently modulate the role an operations officer plays on or off the bridge. As analytical operations relies upon knowledge of science and engineering disciplines, operations managers sometimes performed the additional duties of a science officer, as exemplified by both Lieutenant Commander Data and Ensign Harry Kim. On space stations, the chief of operations frequently commands the maintenance and engineering staff, since stations do not require the large number of propulsion engineers typically found working under the command of a chief engineer on a starship. Chief of Operations Miles O'Brien was a senior chief petty officer who filled this billet on [[ma:Deep Space 9|Deep Space 9]].
Operations officers frequently choose to specialize and add engineering, science, tactical, diplomatic, legal, communications, or command expertise to their broad-ranging base training. This specialty, as well as the needs of a ship, can frequently modulate the role an operations officer plays on or off the bridge. As analytical operations relies upon knowledge of science and engineering disciplines, operations managers sometimes performed the additional duties of a science officer, as exemplified by both Lieutenant Commander Data and Ensign Harry Kim. On space stations, the chief of operations frequently commands the maintenance and engineering staff, since stations do not require the large number of propulsion engineers typically found working under the command of a chief engineer on a starship. Chief of Operations Miles O'Brien was a senior chief petty officer who filled this billet on [[ma:Deep Space 9|Deep Space 9]].
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{{FancyHeading|Other Specific Duties|Goldenrod|Black}}
{{FancyHeading|Other Specific Duties|Goldenrod|Black}}
An operations officer (and the operations staff) may cover other duties, including but not limited to:
An operations officer (and the operations staff) may cover other duties, including but not limited to:
* Tranporter room operation.
* Transporter room operation.
* Shuttlebay flight control, servicing, and operation (in coordination with helm/conn officers).
* Shuttlebay flight control, servicing, and operation (in coordination with helm/conn officers).
* Quartermaster - ensuring environmental conditions are maintained for alien crewmembers and visitors (in coordination with the medical division).
* Quartermaster - ensuring environmental conditions are maintained for alien crew members and visitors (in coordination with the medical division).
* Chief of Boat - drawing up training and drill schedules.
* Chief of Boat - drawing up training and drill schedules.
* Maintenance and provision of recreation spaces.
* Maintenance and provision of recreation spaces.
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