An alien technologies officer (sometimes nicknamed the A-T officer) is a billet in the United Federation of Planets Starfleet and other starfaring governments.
The billet is an interdisciplinary one, combining the aptitudes and interests of archaeologists, sociologists, art historians, engineers and linguists, among other specialties.
Alien technologies officers may be assigned to vessels of any size. They are often included in the crew of combat support tenders and other support craft.
In 2292, Peter Alderson was an alien technologies officer assigned to USS Avenger. (Star Trek: Avenger: "Belonging")
Lieutenant Alexandra Massey was one of the alien technologies officers on Shadowstar Station in the late 2290s. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station: "Pomp and Circumstantial Evidence")
See also
- Alien contact officer
- Archaeology and Anthropology officer
Background
I had never seen this billet used in any broadcast, pro fiction or fan fiction Trek prior to my using it in "Belonging". I interpreted the billet's duties from the unnamed Kzinti A-T officer in Larry Niven's "The Warriors," the 1967 Known Space story that introduced the Kzinti.