Starfleet Engineering Command

**Starfleet Engineering Command** was one of the eight support commands of Starfleet Operations. The command was assigned to deal with projects and missions requiring high degrees of engineering expertise and was one of the oldest in the Federation, with its origins dating back to the United Earth Starfleet. Overseen by the Chief of Starfleet Engineering from offices at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, personnel in the command were known as the Starfleet Corps of Engineers (SCE), with the term often being used to refer to the command itself.

## History

Beginning in the 2390s, the Corps proposed and adopted the Modular Design Program, which called for modular starship designs where various components could easily be swapped or replaced between starship types and classes.

After the Iconian War, Starfleet sought new ways to rebuild and replace the vast amount of starships lost during the previous conflict-riddled decade. When TL-9139 calmed and the many hulls at Yard 39 became salvageable, the SCE was tasked with recovering and reusing the starships to rebuild the fleet. This began the Yard 39 Project, which led to the development of many new starship subclasses based upon 23rd century designs, such as the *Gagarin* and *Somerville*-classes.

## Organization

### Office of Starfleet Engineering

Located at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, the Office of Starfleet Engineering handled the administrative requirements of the command. It was also responsible for coordinating with other Starfleet agencies, such as Materiel Supply Command, and contractors, such as Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, to meet the needs of Starfleet Engineering.

The development of curriculum and the training of personnel in engineering principles and practices, both at Starfleet Academy campuses and the Technical Services school, was managed by the office’s Training Division.

### Research and Development Directorate

Starfleet often maintained an advantage over their adversaries and allies due to the Research and Development Directorate of Starfleet Engineering. Under the Director of Research and Development, the agency pursued projects intended to improve the exploratory and defensive abilities of the fleet.

The Advanced Technologies Division, in coordination with Starfleet Tactical and other agencies, was responsible for the development and improvement of the various technologies used throughout Starfleet. The Warp Technologies Development Group and the Theoretical Propulsion Group were specialized teams associated with the Propulsion Systems Section. The Stellar Imaging Division was a subunit of the ATD that often coordinated with Starfleet Science in the development of technologies used in stellar cartography and astrometrics. Another section within the command was Planetary Defense Systems, which developed technologies to be used in the defense of Federation worlds and colonies.

Though not directly responsible for constructing starships, R&D worked heavily with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau of Shipyards Operations Command to develop and test prototype vessels for Starfleet.

### Field Operations Directorate

Responsible for practical engineering projects handled by Starfleet, the Field Operations Directorate often acted on the fringes of Federation space. The Director of Field Operations would coordinate with staff from Starbase Operations and Colonial Affairs to meet the engineering needs of Federation planets and colonies, as well as Starfleet facilities.

## Uniforms

Personnel, subject to the Starfleet Uniform Code, wore the standard duty uniform with a departmental color of gold, except during special operations or in unique environments. On special occasions, personnel wore formal wear from their homeworlds or a Starfleet dress uniform.

## Appendices

### Connections

**Leadership:** Commander-in-chief • Joint Chiefs • Chief of Starfleet External Affairs • Chief of Starfleet Operations • Chief of Starfleet Research and Exploration • Chief of Starfleet Tactical

**Agencies:** Operations (**Engineering** • Judicial • Materiel Supply • Mission Operations • Personnel Management • Records Service • Shipyards Operations • Starbase Operations) • Research & Exploration (Science • Medical) • External Affairs • Tactical (Intelligence • Security • MACO)

**Notable units:** Ktarn Fleet • Task Force 77

**Facilities:** Deep Space K-7 • Deep Space K-13 • Deep Space 9 • Masamichi Array • Starbase 45-Keepsake • Starbase 82-Maat • Starbase 234-Beskerm • Starbase 247-Vershina

**Agencies:** Starfleet • Diplomatic Corps • Department of Temporal Investigations • Federation Security Agency

**Facilities:** 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards • Antares Ship Yards • Beta Antares Ship Yards • Copernicus Ship Yards • Laikan Starfleet Shipyards • McKinley Station • Memory Project • New Aberdeen Shipyards • Proxima Maintenance Yards • Salazaar Shipyards • San Francisco Fleet Yards • TL-9139 Starfleet Maintenance Yards • Tranquility Base • Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

### Sources consulted

* Starfleet Engineering Command article at *Memory Alpha*.
* Starfleet Engineering Command article at *Memory Beta*.

### Footnotes

1. ↑ *Star Trek Online -* *The Path to 2409: Volume 23, Chapter 3*.
2. ↑ *Star Trek Online* -  *Age of Discovery* short story: "Utopia Planetia: The Mystery of Yard 39."