Captain Kirk to command new destroyer

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Pretty much what it says on the tin.

The commander of the U.S. Navy's sleek new guided-missile destroyer, which launched late last week in Maine, has a name to match its space-age look: Captain Kirk.

Captain James Kirk, the prospective commanding officer of USS Zumwalt, will lead the 610-foot vessel, the Navy's largest destroyer and first of three new Zumwalt-class ships "designed for littoral operations and land attack," the Navy said.

Kirk, a native of Bethesda, Md., was commissioned at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990 and has served in a variety posts as a "surface warfare officer," according to his online bio. "Ashore, Captain Kirk has served as Executive Assistant to the Navy’s Chief of Legislative Affairs and as an Action Officer on the Joint Staff."

Kirk obtained a master's degrees in national security studies at the U.S. Naval War College and U.S. Army War College, where he undoubtedly heard more than his share of "Star Trek" jokes.

The ship, which was moved from dry dock in Bath, Maine, to a pier on the Kennebec River on Friday, is loaded with new technologies, including "radar reflecting angles, a striking inward-sloping tumblehome hull" and advanced gun system.

The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974.

According to the Navy, construction on the first Zumwalt is "more than 87 percent complete," with remaining work on the hull scheduled to be completed before delivery in late 2014.

So who will serve as Capt. Kirk's "Spock" on the Zumwalt? According to the Navy, it's Cmdr. Jeffrey W. Hickox, who was named prospective executive officer of the ship.

[Graham Kennedy]

A few years down the line, they HAVE to name one of the new carriers the USS Enterprise and give this guy command.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

A few years down the line, they HAVE to name one of the new carriers the USS Enterprise and give this guy command.

IIRC they actually are naming one of them Enterprise, so could be...

[McAvoy]

It will be awhile. After the Ford it will be the JFK and then Enterprise. CVN-80

[Nutso]

After I showed you guys how insane the NSA is with their Star Trek room, how long will the Enterprise have to wait before some Trekkie Admiral matches James Kirk with her? It would be irresistible to me.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

After I showed you guys how insane the NSA is with their Star Trek room, how long will the Enterprise have to wait before some Trekkie Admiral matches James Kirk with her? It would be irresistible to me.

... Yeah. Same, here.

[Captain Seafort]

A few years down the line, they HAVE to name one of the new carriers the USS Enterprise and give this guy command.

Not quite direct command, but the Enterprise was part of Admiral Kirk's bombardment squadron off Utah and Omaha beaches on D-Day.

[McAvoy]

After I showed you guys how insane the NSA is with their Star Trek room, how long will the Enterprise have to wait before some Trekkie Admiral matches James Kirk with her? It would be irresistible to me.

Which is why it probably won't happen. It would look like favoritism. Also ten years from now Captain Kirk will either be retired or an Admiral. He has been in the Navy since 1990.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Okay, so it'll be like the movies.

[Nutso]

After I showed you guys how insane the NSA is with their Star Trek room, how long will the Enterprise have to wait before some Trekkie Admiral matches James Kirk with her? It would be irresistible to me.

Which is why it probably won't happen. It would look like favoritism. Also ten years from now Captain Kirk will either be retired or an Admiral. He has been in the Navy since 1990.

You know if Captain Kirk likes Indian food, or Pakistani food? He could very easily have run into someone named Khan there. Oh the hijinks that would ensue...

[McAvoy]

Okay, so it'll be like the movies.

Sure. Brand new Enterprise with some parts left over from the old Enterprises (CV-6 portholes and a couple of things and probably whatever they decide for the CVN-65) where a certain Admiral James Kirk takes command of the carrier group.

Or hell, someone could groom him to be a carrier captain for a year before retiring. Be a little promotional stunt.

[Tyyr]

Exactly, he doesn't have to be captain for years. Even just putting the guy in command for a couple days would be awesome.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Yeah, just as a stun or something.

[McAvoy]

Exactly, he doesn't have to be captain for years. Even just putting the guy in command for a couple days would be awesome.

Again which is why it will never happen. Its basically special treatment whether he is Captain for two minutes or two years.

[Sonic Glitch]

Exactly, he doesn't have to be captain for years. Even just putting the guy in command for a couple days would be awesome.

Again which is why it will never happen. Its basically special treatment whether he is Captain for two minutes or two years.

OR an excellent publicity stunt...