There have been a lot of top security chief officers in the Star Trek franchise, but just how do the best ones rank?
The role of the security chief on Star Trek wasn’t fully defined until The Next Generation. While the “redshirts” trope was always around (just see the title of this website), TNG was the first show to showcase a main chief officer handling all security.
Anyone in that position has to be tough, handle the action and often insane occurrences, and maintain control. The role has usually been filled by very popular characters, addressing the issues of Starfleet. As for how the best ones rank, here’s our picks when it comes to this top security role!
12. Ellen Landry, Discovery
The short tenure of Ellen Landry is a good reason she ranks last among security chiefs. Her rough attitude toward everyone, especially Michael Burnham, who she thought had no business being on the Discovery. Landry was tough, perhaps too much so, as her refusal to listen to words of caution cost her dearly, as she was killed by a monster called the Ripper. That alone ranks her last as she was unable to handle her own security let alone the ship is terrible.
11. Rok-Tahk, Prodigy
The fun of Rok-Tahk is that you had this massive rocky alien, a form seemingly perfect for a security officer, when in reality she was awful for the job. A former slave, Rok-Tahk joined the Protostar crew and was pressured into being the security chief because of her size and strength. She never felt comfortable in it and soon proved she was far more adept at sciences than security and moved to that. That short tenure is why she ranks so low here, but would rate higher on a list of best science officers.
10. Pavel Chekov, Star Trek movies
Most will associate Walter Koenig’s iconic character as the navigator on the Enterprise bridge. Thus, it’s easy to forget that in the big-screen movies, Chekov would move into the role of the Enterprise’s security chief. Chekov didn’t get too much screentime in the security role, with the exception being Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, as he leads the investigation into who framed Kirk and McCoy for killing the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon.
Don't forget, Chekov also served as First Officer aboard the USS Reliant in The Wrath of Khan. Certainly, security was an odd career shift as Chekov was better suited behind that navigation console than any other role on the Enterprise.
9. Kayshon, Lower Decks
When Shaxs (briefly) died, Kayshon was brought in as his replacement. He’s a member of the Tamarian species from the acclaimed TNG episode “Darmok,” known for speaking in metaphors. As it happens, the universal translator allows Kayshon to be better understood, as he had a soft-spoken side as the boss.
Kayshon did possess some fun bits, like his failure to win over women. Notably, when Shaxs returned, Kayshon stepped down as chief to become a member of the security team and he and Shaxs got along well. His tenure was short, but it's still fun to highlight this unique character.
8. D. Nhan, Discovery
Sadly a bit overlooked as a character, D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheril) was a former Engineer on the Enterprise who joined the Discovery crew. Ancheril had a cool look in the part as the Barzan officer, who handled several challenges, like facing Airiam.
Nhan joined the rest of the Discovery crew, journeying to the 32nd century, where she was pleasantly surprised to discover Barzan had joined the Federation. She decided to transfer to the USS Tikhov. Nhan lost half her team on one mission while saving 115 people. Nhan wasn’t bad, and her black-and-white view of the world fueled some conflicts, yet she never got to realize her full potential as a character or officer.
7. Tasha Yar, The Next Generation
The shocking death of Tasha Yar remains a debatable topic among Star Trek: The Next Generation fans. Many believe Denise Crosby was well-suited to the role of the security chief and only let down by the poor writing that abounded in the first season. Yar was an intense woman, believable in command and always dedicated to her duty. The show did a fine job emphasizing her as an expert fighter whose temper could get the best of her.
While Tasha had her share of bad storylines, she still seemed to possess plenty of potential, which made her death stunning and seemingly meaningless. Crosby would return as Tasha Yar’s Romulan daughter Sela (from an alternate timeline), but had she stayed on the show longer, Tasha would have ranked much higher on this list.
6. Lt. Shaxs, Lower Decks
Lower Decks may have been an animated comedy, yet Shaxs would have fit in nicely in any live-action Trek show. Voiced by Fred Tatasciore, the former Bajoran resistance fighter was an action junkie who lived for a suicide mission. A bruising fighter, Shaxs had a surprisingly soft side and truly cared for his fellow officers.
Shaxs notably went down fighting enemies only to come back (never ask him how) and it was interesting to see the balance of this borderline sociopath with a surprising faith and heart. Put aside him ejecting the warp core in any emergency, and Shaxs was the only guy who could ruin security on this nutty ship.
5. Malcolm Reed, Enterprise
Enterprise is often considered the black sheep of the Star Trek shows, but it did have good characters. Malcolm Reed was one of the best, with Dominic Keating playing the role as usually dry and with a stiff British upper lip, while also being the most professional officer on the ship. The only time Reed showcased true joy was when he had the opportunity to blow something up, which was a fun dynamic.
That shoot-first attitude was explained by the revelation that Reed had been trained by Section 31, so it’s no wonder he was so intense in a fight. That professional attitude carried to Reed seeming stand-offish while proving himself as someone who made the security officer position a top one in Starfleet.
4. La'an Noonien-Singh, Strange New Worlds
One of Strange New Worlds’ most compelling characters, La’an Noonien-Singh, literally carries in her blood the stigma of the infamous Khan. Surviving a Gorn massacre as a child further shaped her, as La’an is quite intense on the job, always speaking her mind against superiors, and sadly, her tendency to see threats anywhere can cause problems. Yet no one can deny La'an's dedication to Starfleet and how much she cares for her crew.
The later seasons have seen La’an soften a bit with Spock, especially, but she is still a top-notch security chief. She may be capable of reducing an ensign to tears, but she makes up for it by holding off an invading force. Despite her tough exterior, La’an backs it up as a security chief capable of surviving anything.
3. Tuvok, Voyager
A Vulcan serving as a security chief may have seemed an odd choice but Tuvok wasn’t the typical Vulcan. He proved his skills when he infiltrated the Maquis, proving Vulcans really are capable of lying. As the security chief on Voyager, Tuvok used logic to examine every situation, taking in the variables to figure out the right solution. Not being driven by emotion helped out, even if it meant Tuvok’s solutions could be on the brutal side.
Tuvok also had a close connection to Captain Janeway, and it was lovely seeing him open up to other members of the crew as much as he could. His stoic nature was needed on the often chaotic Voyager and that professional nature helped Tuvok become a major fan favorite and one of the more effective security chiefs in all of Star Trek lore.
2. Worf, The Next Generation
Worf stepped up to become security chief following the death of Tasha Yar in TNG. And that led actor Michael Dorn to unlock the true potential of a Klingon in Starfleet en route to becoming one of the show’s best characters. Granted, there was a bad tendency of the writers to have Worf come up on the short end of some fights (you can make a drinking game for every time an invading enemy smacks him back), yet when they tried, Worf was an effective chief.
Worf's booming voice lent well to giving orders, and he prided himself on being the best fighter on the ship. Worf learned more of tactics as he went, not always barreling into things and a single glare from him could silence anyone. While Worf's time on Deep Space Nine gave him much more to do, albeit in a much different another role, the future captain's tenure as security chief on TNG has to be one of the best of any Trek show.
1. Odo, Deep Space Nine
It’s one thing to be the security chief over a ship, but it’s another thing to represent the law and order over an entire space station, one constantly caught up in galactic events. From the beginning, Odo was a captivating character, and Rene Auberjonois was a perfect choice for the role.
Cool and methodical on the job, Odo had a dry sense of humor and was driven by a need for justice above all else. The fact that he wasn’t bound to Starfleet rules gave him more leeway on cases and his duty took precedence.
The early seasons played on the mystery of Odo and his shape-shifting abilities before revealing the Changeling's connection to the Founders. While he tried to be all business, Odo’s emotions and caring for others became important, while boosting himself up, too.
Odo's experience running DS9, which was previously known as Terok Nor under the Cardassians, and then the Federation proved how amazing Odo was in the role. And this is why Odo is the best of Star Trek’s many security officers.
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