Star Trek: Deep Space Nine alum Cirroc Lofton is happy that the new show Starfleet Academy has paid tribute to Captain Benjamin Sisko and the lasting effects of Deep Space Nine. Lofton, who played Sisko's son Jake on the iconic show, sent fans an emotional post after the show paid tribute to Avery Brooks' beloved character.
Lofton posted on X: "Thank you Starfleet Academy for honoring the legacy of Captain Benjamin Sisko. Avery Brooks will always be my hero! Thank you to everyone who made this moment happen… especially Tawny Newsome. This is for all the fans who have watched and loved Deep Space 9 over the years…"
The post (below) had a picture of Lofton in a new outfit standing in front of displays that tell the tale of Sisko's life and profession. This showed how important the character is to the episode's story.
Thank you Starfleet Academy for honoring the legacy of Captain Benjamin Sisko.
— Cirroc Lofton (@CirrocL) February 5, 2026
Avery Brooks will always be my hero!
Thank you to everyone who made this moment happen… especially Tawny Newsome❤️
This is for all the fans who have watched and loved Deep Space 9 over the years… pic.twitter.com/LFdCDWbwvT
The tribute comes after the fifth episode of Starfleet Academy, which has a museum-style installation that lets a fresh group of students learn about Sisko's legacy. Lofton appears as a holographic guide, which is similar to Jake's position as a storyteller and historian.
This gives fans a strong link back to DS9. For a lot of long-time fans, hearing Jake talk about his dad in this new show is like finally getting the recognition that Sisko and Brooks rightfully deserve, and it has been groundbreaking for the brand.
With Lofton’s emotional message and the episode’s in-universe celebration of Sisko, Starfleet Academy has positioned its DS9 homage as both a love letter to the past and a promise that Sisko’s story will continue to inspire fans for years to come.
For more Star Trek content, visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.