Eric A . Stillwell Eric A . Stillwell is a producer and writer who worked on a number of television series , made - for - television movies , and motion pictures , including numerous " Star Trek " series and motion pictures . " Star Trek " . Sillwell became an avid " Star Trek " fan in 1974 , having only been three years of age when the original series made its network debut in 1966 . The family was living at Mountain Home AFB , Idaho , when he petitioned a local TV station in Boise to keep reruns of " Star Trek " on the air . At age 18 , he organized and administered the international fan club known as , which still operates today with thousands of members around the world . The " Guinness Book of World Records " recognizes Starfleet as the world ' s largest science fiction fan club , although Stillwell has not been actively involved with the organization in more than twenty years . Eric still considers himself a Trekkie . He especially enjoys following the exploits of the fan film " Starship Exeter " . The professional " Star Trek " years . In 1987 , after returning to Los Angeles , Sillwell landed the job of production assistant on " . " He spent the next two years running errands for producers , directors , writers , actors and various studio personnel involved with the hit TV series . In 1989 , he was promoted to script coordinator for the series , working under Executive Producer Michael Piller to coordinate the typing , proofreading , printing and distribution of Next Generation teleplays and script revisions . Also in 1989 , Stillwell teamed up with Trent Christopher Ganino to co - write the story ( in fact , the two had written separate scripts , which Michael Piller suggested they merge ) for , a third season episode which featured the return of Natasha Yar ( Denise Crosby ) . The episode was nominated for three coveted Emmy Awards and won in the category for Technical Achievement in Sound Mixing . " Yesterday ' s Enterprise " has also been voted by the readers of " Starlog " magazine as the most popular episode of the series ( 1993 ) ; ranked as the single most popular one - hour installment of the series in a nationwide viewer ' s choice marathon ( 1994 ) ; was chosen by the readers of " TV Guide " as one of the top five all - time " Star Trek " episodes ( 1996 ) ; and was chosen by viewers in the UK as the number one " Star Trek " episode of all time ( 1996 ) . The California Lottery even featured the " Enterprise " - C from the episode on one of six " Star Trek " scratch - and - win lottery tickets in 1996 . During the series hiatus in 1991 , Stillwell also worked as an extra on , playing one of the numerous background Klingon s in the trial scene of Captain Kirk and Dr . McCoy . In 1992 , accepting an opportunity to travel regularly , he left the studio and became a full - time convention organizer and emcee while continuing to write in a freelance capacity . In 1994 , he teamed up with David R . George III to write the first season story entitled . The episode was nominated for " Best Dramatic Hour " by the Sci - Fi Universe Awards in 1995 . In 1994 , Stillwell founded Horizon Conventions , Inc . , a California corporation . In its first nine months of operation , the company raised over US $ 10 , 000 for various charities , including the Make - A - Wish Foundation . In 1995 , he co - produced the biggest convention ever staged for " Star Trek " fans . The event , held at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London , England , sold out 10 , 000 tickets two months before the show ! The live event featured the entire principal cast of " The Next Generation " and producer Rick Berman , and coincided with the London charity premiere of at the Empire Theatre , contributing to the fanfare and publicity resulting in Paramount Picture ' s biggest - ever UK film opening ! In 1995 , he was hired by " Cruise Trek " , a company that produces an annual seven - to - fifteen day " Star Trek " - themed cruise vacation , to serve as emcee for on board " Trek " - related events and activities . Eric and his wife Debra enjoyed the first cruise so much , they returned for six more . The 2001 trip to the eastern Mediterranean marked their seventh " Cruise Trek . " In 1996 , Stillwell returned to work with writer / producer Michael Piller ( " The Next Generation " , " Deep Space Nine " and " Voyager " ) at Paramount Studios . As Piller ' s executive assistant , he served as Script Coordinator for , the ninth installment in the enormously successful " Star Trek " film franchise . In 1998 , he was hired as an off - camera " typing " extra for a scene in the episode , directed by Avery Brooks . He also shares a story credit on " The 34th Rule " , a DS9 novel written by David R . George III and Armin Shimerman ( Quark ) , which was released in 1999 . To date , the book is one of the best selling DS9 novels ever published by Pocket Books . Eric Stillwell has been referenced several times in the " Star Trek " live - action productions ; Career outside " Star Trek " . Stillwell was born in Okinawa , Japan , in 1962 . When his father retired from the US Air Force in 1976 , the family moved to Eugene , Oregon . After graduating from the University of Oregon in his home town of Eugene , Oregon , in 1985 ( with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science ) , Stillwell headed for Hollywood . In 1986 , he returned briefly to Oregon where he worked for Warner Bros . Television on the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie - of - the - week " Promise " , starring James Garner and James Woods , which became the most honored single program in the history of television with five Emmys , two Golden Globes , a Christopher Award , a Peabody Award , and the Humanitas Prize . Stilwell returned the following year to Los Angeles . In 1999 , Michael Piller left Paramount to establish his own production company named Piller Squared , Inc . , where he was joined by Stillwell , who served as vice president of operations for the company as well as script coordinator and associate producer on Pillar ' s television and film projects . In 2000 , the company produced a science fiction pilot for The WB television network entitled " Day One " based on the British mini series " The Last Train " . Stillwell also served as associate producer on USA Network ' s hit television series " The Dead Zone " starring Anthony Michael Hall and Nicole de Boer , and the hit ABC Family series " Wildfire " featuring Nana Visitor . Michael Piller passed away in 2005 . From 2005 to 2010 , Eric and Debra lived in Eugene , Oregon . In 2006 , Eric served as the head writer and producer of the children ' s television series " Nanna ' s Cottage " and " Monster Sunday School " . In 2007 , Eric joined the Public and Government Affairs staff at the University of Oregon – the same university where he graduated with a BS in Political Science in 1985 . In 2010 , Eric and Debra moved to Burbank , California , where they currently reside . In 2011 , Eric joined the Alternative Entertainment department at FOX Broadcasting Company where he works on shows including " American Idol " , " So You Think You Can Dance " , and " The X Factor " , as well as annual specials including the Teen Choice Awards , the American Country Awards and an occasional Emmy broadcast . Debra is an oncology nurse who was once hired on DS9 as a medical consultant and has had extra roles on " ER " and " Northern Exposure " . She is currently employed at the Disney Family Cancer Center in Burbank .