Executive Officer

Executive Officer's Duties

The Executive Officer is the second in command and must maintain a high standard of excellence. They are mentors for the crew and support for the Commanding Officer. They provide a solid base and help instill a solid front for the command staff. Many times the Commanding Officer will need to rely heavily on the Executive Officer and a relationship of trust and respect between the two is paramount.

In Character

Liaison between the crew and the Commanding Officer

  • If a crew member has a complaint or issue that requires the Commanding Officer's attention, it is the XO's responsibility to make sure the report is sent to the Commanding Officer after first reviewing the situation and ascertaining that it is a legitimate issue. Often times the XO will accompany the crewmember and attend the meeting between them and the Commanding Officer. The XO is also responsible for any follow-up required for this matter. A crew member should always go through the XO instead of confronting the Commanding Officer directly.

    • Conduit for information between crew and Commanding Officer.

  • The XO is responsible for conveying the Commanding Officer's orders to the crew and making sure they are carried out. The XO is responsible for the distribution of any pertinent information to the crew. Another aspect of the XO's job is to also inform the Commanding Officer of anything they need to know that the crew found either through research or sensor data. And also to keep the Commanding Officer informed with up-to-date status reports on any given situation.

    • Ensuring the safety and security of the Commanding Officer.

  • The XO is responsible for the safety of the Commanding Officer and must ensure their safety at all times, but not to the detriment of the primary goal of the mission. Although an XO may object vigorously against the Commanding Officer going into a hostile situation, it is still the Commanding Officer's decision to do so. The XO is then responsible to assign security to accompany the Commanding Officer and provide the best safety available for the Commanding Officer at that time.

    • Advising the CO and acting as a sounding board.

  • Often times the XO is the only person a Commanding Officer has to talk to about a situation. Then it is up to the XO to be a sounding board for the Commanding Officer. It is also the XO's primary duty to advise the Commanding Officer about any given situation. If the XO disagrees with a Commanding Officer's order the XO is well within their rights to object but this should be done in private. It is up to the XO to provide an atmosphere of cooperation and accord within the command staff. Disagreements should never be aired publicly and the XO should support the Commanding Officer in all final decisions, regardless of their personal feelings.

    • Handle the paperwork ensuring that only the forms needing the CO's signature cross the CO's desk.

  • Even in other galaxies there is paperwork and a large bulk of it lands on the XO's desk. They are responsible for the maintenance and assignment of the entire crew. Although there are many forms that require the Commanding Officer's approval and signature, it is part of the XO's duty to prioritize and weed out the superfluous paperwork.

    • Handling all Commanding Officer's duties when the Commanding Officer is unavailable.

  • Often times the XO will be called upon to stand in for the Commanding Officer when the Commanding Officer is otherwise engaged. Then they will assume all of the duties and responsibilities that would go with the position. Additional mission briefings if on an away team, the Commanding Officer is on an away team or the Commanding Officer is unavailable. The XO is responsible for creating a mission brief if the Commanding Officer is on an away team, if the XO is on an away team or the Commanding Officer is otherwise engaged and unable to brief the senior staff. The briefing will include instructions and tasks for those crew members that under the XO's jurisdiction at the time. This may be only a small portion that are on assignment with the XO or it may be the entire senior staff. At least 48 hours prior to the session's start it should be distributed to the crew and SM via email. A different Mission Briefing should be written prior to each game session, even if the mission is continuing over several sessions. It should be brief and concise and include something for each department to do so that all players can begin the session focused on an activity. There may be times when a certain player's position is not needed during a session. Regardless, something should be assigned to them whether it be in assisting another player or a task pertaining to regular ship's business.

    • Command of away teams when applicable

  • XO is often the command officer on away teams. The XO is responsible for selecting which crew they will take although the Commanding Officer has the final say. While on an away team, it is the XO's responsibility to designate and achieve the away team's primary mission goal while maintaining the highest Starfleet standard and adhering to all regulations and restrictions. While on an away team, the XO assumes responsibility for any and all actions and conduct of those crew members that are assigned to the away team. It is at the XO's discretion whether the Commanding Officer is needed at the site of the away team to achieve the primary mission goal. If there is a 2nd Officer on board, the 2nd would then assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the XO during the XO's absence.

    • Command of the bridge if the Commanding Officer is on an away team or unavailable.

  • The XO is quite often found on the bridge assuming command of all bridge crew and functionality while the Commanding Officer is otherwise engaged. It is at the XO's discretion in any situation if it requires the Commanding Officer's presence or not. In that event it is the XO's responsibility to contact and inform the Commanding Officer of the situation. Otherwise it is the XO's responsibility to handle the situation in accordance to Starfleet standards, rules and regulations.

    • Be first tier to settle disputes between crew members. (In character only)

  • It is one of the XO's tasks to intervene and resolve any disputes or issues between crew members. In the case that the situation cannot be settled, it is the XO's responsibility to bring all of the facts to the Commanding Officer and present them in an unbiased manner. It is then the XO's duty to follow-up with the solution devised by the Commanding Officer and to maintain a watch on the situation to see that it does not crop up again.

    • Be first tier for disciplinary actions for crew members (In character only)

  • The XO is the first tier in disciplinary actions for crew members. If there is a situation that requires the Commanding Officer's involvement, it is the XO's responsibility to present the facts in an unbiased manner and advise the Commanding Officer on a course of action. It is then the XO's responsibility to follow through and administer the punishment that was decreed by the Commanding Officer.

    • Out of Character

    Keep accurate records of attendance and logs

  • It is the XO's responsibility to maintain the attendance records for the crew or to designate the task to another crew member. If it is designated out, then the XO must periodically check and see that the records are being kept accurately. These records include keeping track of weekly attendance and weekly log submissions for each crew member, including the Commanding Officer. The XO will then bring any discrepancies or discretions to the Commanding Officer's attention for further action.

    • Keep accurate records of when crew evaluations are due.

  • It is the XO's responsibility to maintain when the crew has their evaluations and to inform the Commanding Officer when the crew is due for their next one. Again, this task may be delegated out to another crew member but it is the XO's responsibility to keep a check on the accuracy and completion of these records.

    • Fill in for the Commanding Officer's out of character duties during the Commanding Officer's absence.

  • In the event that the Commanding Officer is absent, the XO will resume all out of character duties and responsibilities of the Commanding Officer until the Commanding Officer returns and assumes the position again.

    • with evaluation of crew members and recommendations for promotions/demotions or no-action.

  • XO shall help conduct the crew evaluations along with the Commanding Officer and/or the SM. There they will discuss and advise the Commanding Officer on whether a player deserves a promotion, a demotion or a no-action.

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