Janice Rand was supposed to be a CEO on Enterprise

Janice Rand was going to be a leader aboard the Enterprise

When Grace Lee Whitney was cast as Janice Rand on Star Trek: The Original Series, she originally had a much different part. Though she started out as a Yeoman to Captain James T. Kirk, according to Gene Roddenberry, she was to had been Kirk’s confidante. In addition, she and Kirk would have had feelings for each other but never acted on them.  But Whitney described her role in a much different manner when she gave an interview to the Weekend Daily Reporter back in 1966.

Janice Rand was to be the female chief executive officer aboard the Enterprise. and she was to be in charge of the other women aboard the ship. Though the role wasn’t fully explained, Whitney went on to say that “Janice Rand is not going into outer space to catch a man.” Calling herself “Miss Efficiency,” Whitney had no way of knowing that her role on The Original Series would be so short…or different.

What happened to Janice Rand CEO?

Why Whitney’s role changed we’ll probably never know, but having a woman aboard the ship who could help the other women could have been beneficial. Though there were only three women who played any type of major role on the series—Lt. Uhura, Nurse Chapel, and Rand—having one in charge could have opened the door for better storylines for women. And Rand being a CEO would have made it easier for Kirk to confide in her. So Gene Roddenberry’s idea could have remained part of her position.

What do you think? Should there have been a female chief executive officer position aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise? Do you think Grace Lee Whitney could have played the part?